Global cooling

[Tinkerbell]

I've been thinking (which could be a dangerous thing!) B

Many folk quite like the idea of living in a warmer climate - especially if they envisage lower heating bills, the ability to enjoy the outdoor life more and wear less heavy clothing. Therefore, a bit of global warming might appeal to them - particularly bearing in mind the lack of extreme temperatures experienced in Britain, so far.

However, if we as a nation were being warned about global cooling as a consequence of our actions/inactions, and could already see and feel a difference in our climate towards colder conditions (necessitating more energy use and higher heating bills, piling on more clothes and staying in our homes) do you think more folk would take an interest in 'saving the planet'.

I do my little bit, but I'm sure I could do more and, if I'm honest, probably would if I thought imminent global cooling were the consequences of my actions/inactions, rather than global warming.

Tinkerbell

[nightshade]

I liked things the way they were.The youngsters of today are (in the main)
plugged into their i-Pods (the 21st century version of sticking their heads
in the sand) letting "someone else" sort it out

[matt_xyz]

I think that is very true Tinkerbell. A certain amount of warming must be quite appealing to many people, particularly those who aren't fully aware of the full implications of such warming. But the irony is that global warming could of course make the UK cooler if it interferes with the gulf stream as predicted by some.

Matt

[The Valley sparrow]

There is one true constant about the Human race, we only take action when it becomes to late (people putting in alarms after they have been burgled). I honestly think that the Governments should take a more tougher approach, after all there is only one Earth.

[smartie]

Originally Posted by The Valley sparrow

There is one true constant about the Human race, we only take action when it becomes to late (people putting in alarms after they have been burgled). I honestly think that the Governments should take a more tougher approach, after all there is only one Earth.

Maybe so, but Governments want to be re-elected, and you don't get that if you put taxes up or take draconian regulatory measures to solve a problem many people don't really understand or care much about. So it's unlikely they will do much more than they are doing now until there is much more public pressure than we have seen so far. And, at the risk of being bumped off the forum for being political, until someone can convince the Americans in particular that there is a problem to worry about at all.

[Tormentil]

I watched an old Horizon programme the other day about Global Dimming. Basically air pollution is saving us from even more dire effects of global warming.

Golbal Dimming and Global Warming are, at the moment, cancelling one another out, but the more clean air we get the hotter the climate will be come.

Its a bit of a conundrum aint it?

[mrs fish]

You beat me to it Tormentil, I was going to mention global dimming, it was recognised after 9-11 that when planes were grounded in the us that the temp went up so the vapour trails lessen the suns rays getting through.

What a mess the world is in

[henrya]

[quote=The Valley sparrow;we only take action when it becomes to late (people putting in alarms after they have been burgled). [/QUOTE]

And then we find out that having an alarm doesn't stop you being burgled!

henrya

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

I think that is very true Tinkerbell. A certain amount of warming must be quite appealing to many people, particularly those who aren't fully aware of the full implications of such warming. But the irony is that global warming could of course make the UK cooler if it interferes with the gulf stream as predicted by some.

Matt

I understood that the Gulf stream has already moved beyond its normal fluctuation
which is why Eels (for one) are in short supply

[Rich_]

It may take much more than the modern world is prepared to do to reverse climate change, if it's not too late any way.

Our old friend, money, will decide what action is taken I'd say. Which probably means all species, including us, will have to adapt to our changing world or become extinct.