Is Global Warming a Crisis?

• “Yes”

  

  “Global Warming’s Impact Is Already Happening”

• No Objections Yet

Global Warming’s Impact Is Already Happening

Sierra Club

Expert Verified | See Profile

Recommend (6) Comments (1)

The planet has warmed about .74 degrees Celsius over the past 100 years, according to the IPCC. Eleven of the 12 years between 1995 and 2006 were the warmest since global temperature records were first kept in 1850. As a result, polar ice caps are collapsing at alarming rates. Since 1978, the Arctic ice has shrunk 2.7 percent per decade, according to the IPCC. A separate study that recently surveyed 30 glaciers from around the world observed them melting at record rates; an average rate of loss was 4.9 feet in 2006. That’s compared to an average loss of about a foot a year between 1980 and 1999.

One obvious implication is a rise in sea level. Between thermal expansion and collapsing polar ice caps, sea levels are expected to rise at a drastic rate. Sea level on average since 1961 has risen globally at a rate of 1.8 millimeters a year. Since 1993, it has risen 3.1 millimeters a year. In future decades, average sea level will be a few feet higher than now as glaciers continue to recede.

Greenhouse gases emitted by humans for the past 150 years will continue to warm the planet for generations even if we stop fossil-fuel combustion today. Unfortunately, anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emission rates are still rising. Worldwide, emissions rose 70 percent between 1970 and 2005. Emissions will rise by a projected 25 to 90 percent by 2030. China in particular continues to build new coal-fired power plants on a weekly basis.

Before 1850, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was about 280 ppm by volume, the same as the rate for the previous 10,000 years. Today, that reading is 385 ppm. It will continue to rise with each passing year.

Evidence

Link

Rising Sea Level Implications

Link

The Keeling Curve

Link

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture says impacts are already happening

Link

IPCC Projections on Temperature and sea Level

Link

Polar Ice Caps Coverage

Next Argument

"Yes" Sierra Club

• Science Is on Our Side
  6
• Global Warming’s Impact Is Already Happening
  6
• How Much Damage Will Be Done?
  6
• It’s an Economic Crisis If We Do Nothing
  5
• Even Bush, U.S. Military, British Petroleum, Wal-Mart Agree With Us
  4
• Who Are Today’s Skeptics?
  4

"Yes" NRDC

• The Debate is Over: It's Time For Action
  3
• A Little Historical Perspective
  3
• Global Warming is Changing Today’s World
  4
• For Some, Global Climate Change Means Survival
  2
• Corporations Are Part of the Answer
  2
• A Green Economy Means Job Opportunities
  3
• The Cost of Climate Change: We Need To Act Now
  3

"No" NCPA

• Scientific Consensus Overstated
  9
• Climate Forecasts Inaccurate
  6
• Computer Models Based on Faulty Assumptions
  5
• Reports of Environmental Crisis from Global Warming Unfounded
  7
• There Are Benefits from Warmer Temperatures and CO2
  6
• Climate Adaptation Better than Mitigation
  5
• Climate Legislation Would Slow Economy Without Promised Benefits
  3
• Carbon Taxes Are the Best Policy for Greenhouse Gas Regulation
  3

"No" The Heartland Institute

• Global Warming Alarmism
  7
• There Is No Scientific Agreement
  7
• Most Scientists Don’t Believe Humans Threaten Earth's Climate
  7
• The Law of Unintended Consequences
  4
• The Politics of Global Warming
  6

Most Objections

• The Politics of Global Warming
  6
• Global Warming Alarmism
  7
• There Are Benefits from Warmer Temperatures and CO2
  6
• Reports of Environmental Crisis from Global Warming Unfounded
  7
• It’s an Economic Crisis If We Do Nothing
  5
• The Debate is Over: It's Time For Action
  3

Is Global Warming a Crisis?

• Yes
• No

View Results