Is It Getting Warmer?

Earthsave International

This is an interesting analysis. The article basically says that we are foolish to be focusing on CO2 as a potential for the greenhouse gas effect for global warming. Rather, we should be focused on methane. While I am not sure that I totally by into the suggestion that the solution of this problem is that the human race should become vegetarians, the article does point out many good points. If this article is true, why are we spending billions of dollars to reduce CO2 emissions if it is not the true culprit?

Global warming poses one of the most serious threats to the global environment ever faced in human history. Yet by focusing entirely on carbon dioxide emissions, major environmental organizations have failed to account for published data showing that other gases are the main culprits behind the global warming we see today. As a result, they are neglecting what might be the most effective strategy for reducing global warming in our lifetimes: advocating a vegetarian diet.

Unfortunately, the environmental community has focused its efforts almost exclusively on abating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Domestic legislative efforts concentrate on raising fuel economy standards, capping CO2 emissions from power plants, and investing in alternative energy sources. Recommendations to consumers also focus on CO2: buy fuel-efficient cars and appliances, and minimize their use.

Data published by Dr. James Hansen and others show that CO2 emissions are not the main cause of observed atmospheric warming.

This result is not widely known in the environmental community, due to a fear that polluting industries will use it to excuse their greenhouse gas emissions.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that sources of non-CO2 greenhouse gases are responsible for virtually all the global warming we’re seeing, and all the global warming we are going to see for the next fifty years.

Methane is responsible for nearly as much global warming as all other non-CO2 greenhouse gases put together. Methane is 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2. While atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have risen by about 31% since pre-industrial times, methane concentrations have more than doubled.

With methane emissions causing nearly half of the planet’s human-induced warming, methane reduction must be a priority.

Click here for the article

Popularity: 9% [?]

Filed under: Getting warmer, Weather science

Similar articles that you may enjoy:

• A New Global Warming Strategy: How Environmentalists are Overlooking Vegetarianism as the Most Effective Tool Against Climate Change in Our Lifetimes
• A New Global Warming Strategy: How Environmentalists are Overlooking Vegetarianism as the Most Effective Tool Against Climate Change in Our Lifetimes
• How Farm Odors Contribute to Global Warming: New Research Happening in NYS
• Humans’ beef with livestock: a warmer planet
• In China, a Plan to Turn Rice Into Carbon Credits
• POWERFUL NEW TOOL TO TRACK ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE BY SOURCE
• Joint science academies’ statement: Global response to climate change
• Industry caught in carbon ‘smokescreen’
• Global Warming Outlook Far from Alarming
• RESEARCH FINDS THAT EARTH’S CLIMATE IS APPROACHING ‘DANGEROUS’ POINT
• Carbon-Market Concept Moves to Mainstream
• The Real ‘Inconvenient Truth’
• 13 years to turn round global warming
• Scientists unite to push Bush on climate
• Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide