The ISCFC is all about reducing our individual and collective contributions to climate change.
But is climate change really happening? Is it mostly caused by human activity, including our production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases?
In the United States and elsewhere, there are people who are not convinced by the science. But the great thing about science is that we use evidence to evaluate scientific questions. So what is the evidence related to climate change?
Are you or are you not convinced by the majority of climate scientists who say that climate change is real and largely human caused? Why are you convinced/not convinced? What evidence might change your mind one way or the other?
Is Climate Change Real & Human-Caused? >
Human Caused Climate Change is no Myth.
The climate has been changing, there is no debating that. The question lies in the causation. Is the change in our climate due to natural factors or is it at the hands of humans? While of course there is definitely natural factors that play into the warming of our climate. The greenhouse effect, which is the build up of greenhouse gasses, such Carbon Dioxide and Methane both limit the ability for heat to escape our atmosphere. With these gasses trapping the heat in, less and less heat is let off into space and more is retained. Thus warming our earth. The science is there. Take a look at the EPA's website, http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html which highlights the role humans have played in climate change, not just natural causes.
I 100% agree Brandon. The climate does naturally change through time. Since before humans were around the earth had gone through many periods of heating and cooling. Currently this natural change could definitely be a factor in the weirding climate; however, humans are as well. As you pointed out the greenhouse effect has been amplified by humans releasing more than natural amounts of greenhouse gasses as well as the cutting down our forest which act as carbon sinks. These actions have caused significant change in average global temperatures that happen naturally yet much slower than what we are experiencing. All change is natural and without humans millions of species would go extinct and the earth would cool and heat but the uncanny phenomenon that we are experience is just the sheer rate of the change. It is unprecedented and aligns with human involvement in nature. I do not believe it to be a coincidence.
Good points Matthew! I agree with you analysis on our impact. The change in climate is not solely a human caused issue; however over the few past decades we have added a large amount of greenhouse gases. So I agree with your statement that it is not a coincidence.