Why do people believe we are destroying the earth by global warming?
397758
Is global warming to our benefit?  \n\nI say this because global levels of environmental Carbon(13), an isotope of Carbon(12), is used by us geologists as a way of identifying paleo-glacial maximums.  A high Carbon(13) level coincides with periods of high glaciation (i.e. ice-age).  \n\nRight now the levels of environmental Carbon(13) are at a level that should indicate the beginnings of an Ice age.  Clearly things are getting warmer, not cooler.  So the question is: is human Carbon Dioxide/Carbon Monoxide input actually holding back the impending Ice age?\n\nAlso, why do so many people think that the atmosphere should be static.  The global temperature is always increasing or decreasing.  It's never static.
863668
Global warming is NOT a "natural thing."\nYes, our planet all on its own, for various reasons, does go through cycles of warmer and cooler temperatures.\nHowever, in the last 150 years we have added many billions of tons of carbon in various forms (carbon dioxide in the air is the biggest problem) to the planet's ecosphere -- more than any "natural" cause in the history of the earth.  \nI very much want to leave a habitable planet to my children, so they can do the same for theirs.  That means reducing humans' artificial climate changes which are causing a runaway greenhouse effect -- which is NOT natural.\n\nThe earth isn't going to "die" naturally for another 4.5 BILLION years or so -- why are you so relaxed about moving that deadline up by 4.9999 billion years?\n\n"only" girl -- it's not a theory, it's well proven.  You should keep up with science.
943646
We don't need to counter the greenhouse effect. Global warming is caused by the Sun, not by anything that we are doing. and we cannot prevent it. We need to make realistic plans to move our cities inland, not to waste time trying to prevent it.\n\nAttributing global warming to human causes is political hype, exploited by unscrupulous people who want to gain fame without having to do anything to earn it and influence without being responsible to anybody in their use of it.\n\n13 NOV 06, 0323 hrs, GMT.
303981
Because global warming is a load of crap..
17705
because it only affects the US.  Never mind we out produce everybody.  The Kyoto Protocals don't do anything for the alleged global warming.  If there is such a thing how could humans stop it?  Stop volcanoes from exploding? In school they taught us about weather cycles, that included several ice ages. In the seventies they were worried about global cooling.
806691
Global Warming is taking place, and I am not so sure it is just the people who are the culprits of this catastrophic event. There are much deeper reasons for this phenomenon that is taking place. We may be contributing to this problem. But  we alone aren't the only contributing factors. Scientists are studying this, and they have other theories. Reverse polarities may be taking place. \nPersonally, I think that because the Earth spins slightly off its axis, thus it has a wobble, and the Earth is coming to a stop. The sun is a powerful force, and as the Earth slows, sun's effects upon us are becoming more and more prolific. Cancer is more prevalent than ever before, for just one example. \nYes, Global Warming is happening, and I don't know if we are really able to stop it, or how much we contribute to the problem. We may be speeding up the process, but I don't think we are completely to blame.
803494
Yes.  Global Warming is occuring.  It will just keep getting worse if we don't take measures to try and prevent things from getting worse.
649669
People babble a lot on this page! If you don't know the answer properly, please don't answer!!!\n\nGo to the link below, it will tell you all about Global Warming and comes from a legitimate source.
784011
I don't believe in global warming . .I believe in my opinion is the signs that Christ is coming back soon! If you don't agree that is cool by me.
1159556
actually, because of Global Warming, we would be in the ice age.  The increase in temperature causes a higher density of water vapor in the air, as a result the net temperature on the surface of the earth drops, and we get lots and lots of percipitation.  The Earth is making drastic attempts to shift it's self to remedy this.  Al Gore thinks we can control it because WE caused it, and so it would stand to reason that we fix it.
139731
Just to add a little to the middle school science teacher's answer ... we are also using up the fossil fuels of the earth at an alarming rate, which is contributing to global warming.  This means that the Arctic ice cap is melting at the rate of about 75,000 square kilometers a year, and has been melting at that rate for about 30 years now, which is about the size of Lake Superior every year.  This means that the level of the oceans will rise, causing erosion of many coastal areas.  Many species of wildlife are endangered because of us, including whales, polar bears, and many tropical species that live in rain forests particularly. \n\nWe are endangering other people because we have a great division in the world between those who have plenty of everything and those who are starving.  If the world's food was shared in a fari way there would be plenty for everyone.  The same applies to all of the world's resources, not just food.\n\nWe are also endangering the world when we don't recycle and use products that are so over-packaged.  We throw pop bottles, all kinds of paper and containers and organic stuff into our landfills instead of recycling.\n\nWe over-use many medications, especially antibiotics, which means that many bacteria are becoming immune to the antibiotics that used to be able to treat them.  We see this in the many infections people can now get just by being in a hospital.  We also make this worse by using products such as antibacterial soaps in our homes, which we don't really need.\n\nFor the most part the western world, those of us who have enough of most things, ignore the poverty, starvation and disease in the poor parts of the world so we are endangering the peoples of many countries when instead we could help them much more than we do.  Also, we tend to ignore the wars in many parts of the world unless we think they will have an effect on us.  For example, nobody pays much attention to a lot of the bad stuff that happens in many parts of Africa because it we think it doesn't have much connecton to us.\n\nHope this helps.
1176884
No, in fact, I think that Earth needs to get rid of us because all we do is screw everything up. We've compromised the ozone layer, created massive amounts of waste that will probably never go away, poisoned water sources, killed off other animal species and nearly depleted fossil fuels.\n\nIf Earth were a creature, humans would be its cancer.
260304
global warming is cause by greenhouse gases being trapped near earths atmosphere, which causes heat to be trapped nearer to earths surface which increases the temperature on earth slightly which melts the polar ice caps which makes water levels rise which means islands will be flooded and shores will advance into the land making living space smaller in an already overpopulated world.
499658
Human beings are the only species that think that they can 'improve' the environment they live in via 'progress' and 'invention' and 'technology'.\nI suppose this mistaken belief springs from the fact that we believe we are somehow 'superior' and it is our 'responsibility' to re-make the earth according to our stupid specifications.\nUntil we change and begin to understand that the real challenge is to live as much as possible 'in accordance' with nature and in harmony with the environment, we will keep on destroying the world we live in.Then, a time will certainly come when we wont have anyplace to live in anymore and that will be the end of us.
1089548
The earth is being destroyed by mankind. It won't be overpopulated but drained out by human mischieves. Our duty is to preserve peace and harmony. What a pity...the beautiful earth is a war-ridden ball.
126869
Global warming is real, but not really caused by industry and being covered up. Studies show that primary global warming is caused by the build up of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere, which is actually caused by our breathing. So as human population increases, so does global warming. The solution is to cut back on world population, but no government is going to admit that we should stop breeding and kill off thousands of people as a solution. Maybe China.
23702
Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. The term is also used for the more specific scientific theory of anthropogenic global warming, which states that much of the recent observed (and projected) global warming is human-induced and the result of a strengthened greenhouse effect caused by man-made increases in carbon dioxide (through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation) and other greenhouse gases. The natural greenhouse effect keeps the Earth 30 °C warmer than it otherwise would be; adding carbon dioxide to an atmosphere, with no other changes, will make a planet's surface warmer. Current research tries to uncover more details, e.g. about positive and negative feedback mechanisms, to allow a more precise quantification of the effect.