Water vapur is the most significant greenhouse gas [accounting for around 95% of the effect].  Of this, 0.001% is of man made origin, and the rest is natural.

Of the CO2 in the atmosphere, 0.117% is of man made origin – one part per thousand of a minor contributor.

You say that it is an enclosed system, but you are ignoring the Sun.  The Sun’s effect on the atmosphere and climate is incalculable.  By comparison, the human effect would be akin to a mouse on the Titanic blaming himself for the sinking because of his extra weight.   I have to agree with Kirk M.  “We think far too much of ourselves as to be the sole cause of changes to and within the unbelievably monstrous system that makes up our world’s climate.“

With regard to your idea of moving the skeptics to sea level, you are missing the point once more.  No one is saying that sea levels aren’t rising.  The question is is man the cause?

Again, as Kirk M said [and I originally stated in my post] – this is now a trillion dollar industry.  If you want a slice of the pie, then you have to subscribe to the man made theory.  Possibly [probably] China recognises that fact.

Incidentally, I am not funded by Exxon.  I wish I was.

‘There is a very large [and growing] body of opinion in the scientific community that is not convinced that the current theories are correct.’

I keep hearing this but what body of scientific opinion claims that? 

With regard to your analogy of the smoking fireplace, that is somewhat exaggerated.  CO2 makes up less than 400 parts per million, so it would be more akin to lighting a candle in the Albert Hall?

When you say Co2 makes up less than 400 parts per million- are you saying of our atmosphere? I’m sorry Grandad but if you think that the entire industry of China, India and the developed west pumping billions of tons of Co2 into the atmosphere over the past two hundred years is akin to candle in a cathedral I think you are dramatically underplaying the amount of pollution for which we are responsible.

Its an enclosed system with no venting or refresh systems. I’d be a lot happier with climate change sceptics if I wasn’t convinced that (a) they are being encouraged bythe world’s largest fossil fuel burner- Exxon (b) Much of the climate change scepticism comes from the US,  a nation which regards it as almost a religious right to own and operate as much oil-fired machinery as possible. The constant attempts to link climate change with yesterday’s weather which does nothing more than highlight the ignorance of those sceptics.
I have an idea. Why not move all the climate change sceptics to the coastline? All those who believe climate change and a rise on the ocean’s seas levels is a threat get to live 20 metres above current ocean levels.
I expect it’ll take Florida disappearing before the rednecks get it.
 
 
 
 

Is there climate change?

and

Is it man made?

These questions beg a black or white answer and when it comes to humans there’s no such thing as a situation that only has a black or white answer. It’s never a yes or no situation so taking sides in this matter is a bit of a farce. But us human types are always good for a farce. Otherwise we never would have invented the carnival.

As far as the first question is concerned, it’s the wrong question. As you pointed out yourself, GD, the climate has been changing ever since day one. The better question is:

Is there going to be a climatic shift?

The answer to that is a definite maybe. At least as far as the first question goes. Plenty of room for discussion of course, but there’s no answer to that yet. After all, some say the world is warming while still others state the actual data points to a definite cooling trend. All we really know is this year’s been a real wet one. I mean I’m sitting here, 8 miles from the Canadian border and it hasn’t snowed yet or even been cold enough to think about it.

Now for the second question:

Is it man made?

If that’s the actual question then I’m pretty sure the answer is no. We think far too much of ourselves as to be the sole cause of changes to and within the unbelievably monstrous system that makes up our world’s climate. The better question to ask is:

Are humans affecting our climate in an adverse way?

And the answer is–you betcha! We most definitely are having an adverse affect on our climate. But are we the sole cause of a climate change? No, absolutely not. Of course, if we want to satisfy our over inflated egos we could always detonate a few hundred nuclear missiles here and there and I’ll guarantee the resulting climatic shift would be solely our fault.

But I digress.

As it stands now, any real data coming out of the world’s so-called think tanks, such as the CRU, that have been set up to ponder the problems of climate change/warming trend/global warming/whatever the watch word of the day may be, can be considered corrupt before it ever hits the streets. Why? Because the only thing that really matters now is the bottom line–money and power. And there’s more than one bottom line considering which side of the fence any particular “powers that be” might be sitting on. The trouble is that this particular fence has quite a few more sides than just the regular two.
 

By the way Grandad, I’ve been meaning to track down these emails myself but I haven’t hardly had the time to get on the old ‘puter so thanks a bunch for providing the links.

the world wont end and oil wont run out tomorrow the free economy will dictate when we need to adopt new sources of power government interference will only lead to short term implementation if at all imho.