Global Warming. Is the glass half full or half empty?

New video.  Full text below.

The vast majority of climate scientists and educated observers, perhaps 97-98%, agree that CO₂ in the atmosphere warms the globe. The science is clear and well understood. Bonds in the carbon dioxide molecules absorb radiated hear and warm up. This warms the atmosphere and hence the Earth’s surface. The amount of warming directly attributable to this absorption of infrared radiation is 1C for a doubling of CO₂ levels from 290 ppm. This is generally agreed by both climate scientists who are support Kyoto and by sceptical climate scientists.

It is well accepted that 1°C warming is good. Plants grow better in the warmer conditions. Increased CO₂ in the atmosphere also improves plant growth. Some farmers artificially increase CO₂ concentrations in their greenhouses. The Sahel region on the edge of the Sahara is becoming greener as a result of increased CO2 in the atmosphere.

So if 1°C of warming is good and doubling CO₂ will warm the Earth by 1°C, why do so many tell us we have to cut our carbon emissions? It depends on how you see your glass – is it half full or half empty. Look at this glass, it contains 50% of its maximum capacity. It is both half full and half empty. How you choose to see it is your choice.

For some the glass is half full. Some people see carbon emissions as a good thing. Carbon that has been trapped under the ground for millions of years is being released. Plant photosynthetic processes evolved when CO₂ levels were perhaps 10 times higher than they are today. As we release this carbon to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels we are benefitting both from increased plant productivity at absorbing the sun’s energy and the economic benefit that comes from using the energy that we get by burning carbon. Burning fossil fuels is a win-win situation.

But many people choose to see the glass as half empty. They see this increased CO₂ concentration and the associated warming as a problem. They tell us that the small amount of warming caused by CO₂ absorption of radiated heat will be amplified by other effects. These effects may cause catastrophic runaway global warming of more than 2 degrees, maybe 3, 4 or 5°C. But the mechanisms that are supposed to cause this warming are speculative. The models are not supported by fact. Global temperatures have not risen for 17 years despite increasing CO₂ in the atmosphere. It is clear that runaway warming is not occurring. They now call it climate change and blame it for every adverse weather event. They ignore the facts that the climate has always changed and there were adverse weather events before we started to emit CO₂. 

To counter this warming threat they are telling us that we have to cut our fossil fuel usage. We have to use expensive and unreliable alternative energy. We have to cover our hills and seashores with windmills. We have to clear cut old forests and jungles to burn the wood and grow oil palms. We have to burn food and drink as biofuel. We have to pay carbon taxes on coal, oil and natural gas to heat our houses in winter. We have to make sacrifices. We have to make sacrifices to limit the amount of plant fertiliser we put into the air.

So how do you see the world? Is your glass half full or half empty? Should we enjoy the benefit of reliable carbon based fuel which increases the amount of plant fertiliser in the atmosphere and helps prevent a return of an ice age? Or should we sacrifice our economy to prevent a non-problem from occurring?  Me? … My glass is half full … or rather it was. Cheers and enjoy life. Burn carbon without guilt.