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Re: Human vs. natural influences on the environment
: >There are thousands of subjects we do not have full understanding
: >of, but that should not stop people from trying. Knowledge is
: >gained by suggesting a model and then trying to disprove it.
: >The real issue here is: do we have enough information to suggest
: >models. The answer from the scientific community is a clear YES.
Harold Brashears (brshears@whale.st.usm.edu) wrote:
: While I think it is always worth it to build models and to test them
: (otherwise, I would have been in some other business), I do not
: believe that means we must act on the output of these models at this
: time. If you have some reason to believe that the models under
: discussion are accurate, tell everyone about those reasons.
Myth 3 - There's no point in the industrial world doing anything to curb
emissions of heat-trapping gases, since developing countries like China
and India will produce most of the heat-trapping gases in the future.
This statement is made by critics in an effort to deflect the need for
action on climate change. Industrial nations, including the United
States, have a particular responsibility to cut their emissions of
heat-trapping gases because they are accountable for 80 percent of
carbon dioxide that humans have already pumped into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, if industrial nations do nothing to reduce CO2 emissions,
there is little incentive for developing countries to limit their
emissions or to consider alternative energy policies.
It is true that the CO2 emissions from some developing countries, in
particular China, are projected to be higher than industrial countries
by 2100, but this is only under "business-as-usual" scenarios, assuming
that no action is taken to limit the emission of heat-trapping gases and
that reliance on fossil fuels does not change. These worst-case
scenarios can be avoided if serious efforts are made to increase
efficiency and transfer cleaner energy technology, including renewable
energy, to the developing world.
- Union of Concerned Scientists -
: Regards, Harold
: ----
: "Sen. Dole's entire life has been devoted to public service; from
: his brave service in World War II, to his service in the Kansas
: state legislature, the U.S. House and for the past 27 years our
: U.S. Senate. He has devoted his life to serving the people of
: Kansas and our country."
---
"His library burned down, both books were lost, and he hadn't finished
coloring one of them yet." - Jack Kemp talking about Bob Dole
"All he want's is a tax deduction for hair spray" - Bob Dole talking
about Jack Kemp
References: