The anthropogenic global warming theory (AGW) is the unproven but highly popular theory that human beings are responsible for most of the slight warming trend seen since the Little Ice Age. The AGW theory is one explanation for the 1.5 degrees F of warming of the air near the earth's surface recorded since 1850.[1] However, Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore said global warming is most likely a "natural phenomenon," because there is no proof of man-made global warming, and suggested that "alarmism" is driving politicians to create bad environmental policies.[2]
The idea that human activities, such as the combustion of fossil fuels, can significantly warm the earth's atmosphere is called the enhanced greenhouse effect.[3]
Terminology
The term "anthropogenic" comes from Anthropo- ("men") and genic (cause).
Relation to current climate change
A panel of the United Nations is "90% sure" that most global warming since about 1950 has been caused by human beings.[4] But Roger Pielke, Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, said, "After Climategate, the surface temperature record is being called into question." To experts such as McIntyre and Pielke, perhaps the most baffling thing has been the near-unanimity over global warming in the world’s mainstream media - a unanimity much greater than that found among scientists.[5] Moreover, appearing on Fox Business Network with Stuart Varney, Greenpeace co-founder, Patrick Moore, explained why he left the organization. While talking with Varney, Moore explained that departure was in part due to the group’s "extremist positions" and it being hijacked by political and social causes as well as the left.[2] Exposing the green movement, Moore also said he’s not the only environmentalist that believes like him.
The anthropogenic global warming theory enjoys broad based political support from Liberals, Socialists, as well as the U.S. Democratic Party. Supporters of the anthropogenic global warming theory frequently assert the existence of a "scientific consensus,"[6] which was revealed by ClimateGate as favoring their viewpoint while suppressing counter evidence, so that legislators can use this false sense of scientific support to gain more power, enabling them to enact stricter legislation to combat man-made global warming. At the same time, most or all supporters of the anthropogenic global warming theory frequently declare, "the debate is over." The reality is that strict environmental legislation is not necessary, is not beneficial and in fact does more harm than good, and is outside of the constitutional limits of the United States government.
References
- ↑ Climatic Research Unit Sheet #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jonathon M. Seidl. Greenpeace Founder Questions Man-Made Global Warming, The Blaze, Posted on January 20, 2011.
- ↑ Global Warming
- ↑ Mankind to blame for global warming, says IPCC
- ↑ David Rose. SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Climate change emails row deepens as Russians admit they DID come from their Siberian server, UK Mail Online, December 13, 2009.
- ↑ see Politics of global warming.