• Question: Do you agree with the theory of global warming?

    Asked by strawberrygirl12 to David, Helen, Ian, rhysphillips, Sarah on 24 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Ian van der Linde

      Ian van der Linde answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Global warming is a fact – the world is getting warmer! Where is theory comes in is trying to work out what is causing it. There are several possibilities – one is that it’s all part of a natural weather cycle. This is unlikely, because looking at fossil records suggests that temperature increases this rapid haven’t happened before. I think it’s more likely that human activity is causing global warming — pollution, deforestation, misusing land to the degree that it becomes desert – those sorts of things!

    • Photo: David Corne

      David Corne answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      See Ian’s answer above. Global warming is a fact, in just the same way that “1+1=2” is a fact. The interesting and important thing is: what are we going to do about it? One thing that is actually NOT all that important is whether it’s largely caused by man or largely natural – obviously it’s a combination of both, but ultimately that’s more or less of academic interest. The really important thing is to recognise that human activities can make a difference to slowing it down or reversing it. And, they certainly can, and hopefully will. To put this another way, imagine that a great big rock is falling on your head. It will hit you in 60 seconds. Some kinds of people, let’s call them “type A”, would say “This rock may have come from a great big rock gun constructed by humans, or it may have come from a volcano; either way, I will step aside so that it misses me.” Other types of people, “type B”, would say: “this rock was spewed out of a volcano by natural processes. Human activity had nothing to do with it. Therefore I will stay where I am and just let it fall on my head”.

      Technically, type B people are Deniers of Undisputed Meteorological Measurements Internationally Evaluated Scientifically — i.e. DUMMIES

    • Photo: Rhys Phillips

      Rhys Phillips answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Global warming is most definitely happing – it’s not just a theory. As Ian has said, there are various theories as to what exactly is causing it and I agree with David that it doesn’t really matter what causes it – something needs to be done.

    • Photo: Helen Fletcher

      Helen Fletcher answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Global warming isn’t a theory- we have plenty of evidence to prove it as fact! Poor polar bears.

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