What do you feel about climate change?

Do you think its too late?

Can we do something about it (http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/big_ask/)

Sign the petition (http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/big_ask/petition/index.html)

I think we are OK but I want to act while we still are. I also think we should take the lead.

It's an interesting issue; part of the problem is that we don't really have a vast amount of long term historical data about climate change.

Although there's evidence that there are changes in the oceanic currents that generate the Gulf Stream - which would really louse things up for us if it collapsed - there are periods in history where we had very extreme weather.

The 'Maunder Minimum' in the 17th or 18th Century when the Thames froze over is, for example, possibly linked to a reduction in radiation form the sun. There are other indications from tree rings and such that we have had variations in the past.

Having said all that, it's not a good idea to assume it'll sort itself out so I do believe we need to down size our energy needs.

Joe

I think Britain, as the world's fourth largest economy, could do wonders by 'taking the lead' re sizing down. I am all for it. At the moment, there isn't the willpower. The government should do a lot more here to encourage 'greener' lifestyles, not in terms of nannying and hectoring, but in terms of presenting the facts well, and thinking in terms of global, as well as local, interests.

whether we've caused it, or whether it's natural, global warming is taking place, and it is a problem for humans - we wouldn't survive in a much hotter climate. What annoys me though is the way the rising sea levels is put down to the ice melting - it doesn't work like that, whether the water is frozen or liquid, there's still the same volume of water in the oceans. The sea levels rise because as water warms, it expands.

Originally posted by HarrietStar
whether we've caused it, or whether it's natural, global warming is taking place, and it is a problem for humans - we wouldn't survive in a much hotter climate. What annoys me though is the way the rising sea levels is put down to the ice melting - it doesn't work like that, whether the water is frozen or liquid, there's still the same volume of water in the oceans. The sea levels rise because as water warms, it expands.

But there in lies an inteersting issue.

If you look at the 'Gaia' hypothesis of James Lovelock then that would state that the planetary ecosystem is acting in a way to maintain equilibrium that is best for life as a whole.

Perhaps the equilibrium is best served in the long run by allowing us humans to suffer a sharp decrease in numbers?

Just a thought.... :)

Sea levels also rise due to the fact of huge glaciers that are above sea level are melting therefore ice melting does affect the sea levels

so when an ice cube in a glass of water is above the water level and melts, does the level of water go up?

yep well, assuming it's good to carry on with 6 billion people in the world, lol - i'd rather we reduced our population out of choice through birth control etc rather than aids or a natural change we can't control (on the other hand, we can control global warming to an extent, so maybe we should just let it continue, maybe that is the USA's plan all along, since they are anti-abortion etc lol)

yeah the water level does rise when an icecube above the water melts, try it its basic science. I do agree that there should be more birth control matters introduced and that there is an alarming number of humans populating the world, however what could stop people having children if the want them?

ah ok, i might try that :) i was never great at science, more of a human geography person!

well, if a couple really really wants kids, then nothing will stop them from trying. but a lot of births (especially unwanted ones) could be prevented through education and medical provisions, also, government incentives would help. the problem is that in countries like the uk/sweden/japan the government wants more kids, and in many african countries birth control is frowned upon so there is a major imbalance. alongside migration this makes a worrying situation.

As does the spread of aids in third world countries at the min with many children been born with the disease, some religions from upon contraception (or so i beleive) and so it would be one hell of a problem trying to make people use it. I have however read an interesting article saying that global warming is not uncommon in the history of the world and that the earth runs on a cycle of hot and cold periods. Which i beleive to be more true than humans causing global warming. I just think that it is the first time that humans have ahd the ability to record such facts and this is why there is great alarm about it.

Seems like the right time to build a big boat next to the zoo and buy land at the top of a mountain!

yeah the water level does rise when an icecube above the water melts
No - it stays exactly the same because a floating object displaces it's own mass of water. The problem comes when ice which is not floating (like that on Antartica or Greenland) melts and adds to the existing volume of sea water.