Vote totals:
Yes:
50%
No:
50%
Neutral:
0%
DEBATE: CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
The significant bulk of scientific research says it is happening
The biggest collection of specialist scientists in the world say that the worlds climate is changing as a result of human activity. The scientific community almost unanimously agrees that man-caused global warming is a severe threat, and the evidence is stacking.
There is in no way real agreement between scientists. Some say that the sea emits more greenhouse gas than humans ever could. Many also say that the effects are being overplayed in order to attract research money from governments and organisations.
There were also many scientists that refused to be included in the IPCC references as they disagreed with the conclusions.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
We should reduce our use of fossil fuels anyway
Fossil fuels are finite, we should start developing alternatives now rather than later.
As fuels become more scarce their price will rise, alternatives will be developed and become cost-effective on their own. We do not need to waste time and money on expensive government funded early development programmes.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
It will affect everybody
The effects of climate change will be worldwide. Terrorism, disease and malnutrition will only affect smaller groups, we should only act on the bigger problems.
The effect of climate change on everybody will be mild and spread over a very long time. Disease and malnutrition are ruining many peoples lives right now. The money spent helping these people will be much more effective in terms of saving lives per dollar spent than on expensive wind farms.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
Acting to ‘mitigate’ climate change will cost a fortune.
Action needn’t cost a fortune, using market forces and effective regulation carbon emissions can be reduced at minimal cost. Anyway the people that are causing it can easily afford it…
Out of the four possible eventualities, acting now is the best. Either we act or we don’t act, and then either GW happens or not. If we do not act, and global warming happens, the enitre world economy would completely collapse, and these third world communities would be wiped out in an instant.
The cost of cutting back fossil fuel use and developing alternatives will be vast. The money is much better spent on preventing hunger and disease in the third world.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
The effects of climate change will not necessarily be bad
The beneficial effects are slight, and confined to the predominantly wealthy cooler developed countries. By contrast, any rise in temperatures will lead to devestating damage to hot countries around the equator which are almost all relatively poor developing countries. Not only do the harms massively outweigh any benefits, the harms hurt those worst off, the benefits those who are already the wealthiest and safest countries on the planet.
Fewer people will die from the cold in winter. We will get real summers. Should these factors be weighed into the cost-benefit analysis?
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
Humankind has the ability to deal with it later
Nobody knows what the future holds, our rate of growth and technological ability may slow down soon as we reduce fossil fuel use. Anyway the effects of climate change are predicted to be such that we have to act now to prevent, as opposed to waiting for a cure.
Humanity has only been able to survive in this state due to the fact that very few global disasters have happened – even the black death only covered Europe and Asia. 100 years may be far too late, and we should be acting now rather spending time and money trying to find new ways to adapt. We have the means already – the only problem is getting people to act on it. Every action from demanding that America sign up to the Kyoto treaty to changing the light bulbs in your house can help change the world, and we should be focusing on this.
Humans have adapted to every aspect of the environment that has changed in history. Why will this be any different? In 100 years time we will be able to do anything with technology, think about how far we have come in the last 10 years.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE END OF THE WORLD
NO. It has become a new and fashionable way of attacking capitalism
The media has taken it this far because it has been established as fact that we are warming the world, media and politicians are merely concreting it and trying to get people motivated to act.
The argument has turned into an anti-capitalist protest. The use of over-emotional media and speeches have turned the discussion away from real scientific facts towrds an arena of name-calling and stereo-typing.
