Is it too late to stop global warming?

Answer 1

Global warming was caused by mankind. Many people find this too hard to believe. Just centuries ago we couldn't have caused global warming, but now, we are a force of nature. We caused this problem, and we can also stop it. If we were all like Spock, the problem would be much easier to solve. But humans are lazy, stubborn, arrogant, and selfish. We have everything we need to solve this problem. We just need the willpower and the willingness to work together.

Answer 2

While immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible damage, it is not too late to mitigate the impacts of global warming. By implementing sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions, and transitioning to renewable energy sources, we can still work towards slowing down the rate of global warming and protecting our environment for future generations.

Answer 3

The current warming trend began as man began to contribute significantly to greenhouse gas concentrations, starting around 1850.

"Climate sensitivity" refers to the amount of time required for climate to adjust to changes already introduced. If all further greenhouse gas emissions were immediately stopped, we would expect earth to continue warming for decades to come as the climate continues adjusting to changes we have already introduced. In that respect alone, global warming is a freight train that cannot be quickly stopped.

Science Answer:

Yes, there is no way we can reasonably undo what we have done. There are no immediate market incentives for pulling the CO2 we already liberated back out of the air.

Over the past 20 million years (long before our species came into existence), atmospheric CO2 naturally ranged from 200 parts per million to 280 ppm. For all of human existence it varied only from 250 to 280, which is where it was at the onset of the industrial revolution in 1700. In the 200 years from 1700 to 1900 CO2 rose 10 ppm, which is about twenty times faster than any natural change. Still, even at that rate, we could have continued burning fossil fuel for a thousand years before CO2 would reach any level of concern. Many scientists consider 350 ppm to be the maximum sustainable level for CO2 given our present conditions. Between 1900 and 1950 CO2 levels rose an additional 10 ppm, to 300 ppm. But we continued doubling production, and doubling consumption, such that before the 1980s concluded we passed that 350 ppm mark. We will reach 400 ppm in three years (2015), and pass 500 ppm before 2050, less than 40 years away. At 400 ppm earth's temperature is expected to rise 4° to 9° C over the course of the next century.

We currently produce about 3% of the total atmospheric CO2 each year, which means after 33 years we would have doubled the present amount.

Do we need to produce greenhouse gases to survive? No one was burning prodigious quantities of fossil fuel prior to 1700. Yet our species seemed to fare just fine for thousands of years before then. Granted, technology has improved our condition tremendously, but we also quit doing most things that we learned had harmful side effects, such as using lead paint in our homes, and leaded gasoline in our cars.

The IPCC and most other science organizations concur that 350 ppm should be a sustainable level of CO2. We cannot reach that level now, we're already set on a course of higher global temperatures. If we stopped burning fossil fuel immediately, it would take decades to drop back down to 350 ppm at only 0.2 ppm per decade. 400 - 350 = 50, and 50/0.2 = 250. That isn't 250 years, but 250 decades, or 2500 years. Perform this calculation yourself for 2050, to determine the effect of further delay.

We cannot stop global warming, but if we changed our energy policy to focus on alternatives, and to invest more heavily in public transportation systems, these steps would help curb the phenomenal growth from industrial heat trapping gas, and delay the most egregious of the consequences our mistakes will create.

Answer 4

No, there is no way to stop global warming, only to slow it down.

We can stop global warming by stopping deforestation and by stopping fossil fueling. We have to move to renewable energy (solar, wind, water, hydro, tidal and wave, geothermal, ocean thermal, biomass and biofuel).

Answer 5

Yes. And it could be you! If you think you can't handle it, then just start doing 1 little thing. Then get your friends doing the little thing. Then have them get THEIR friends helping out, and so on and so on. Then we will really make a difference.

Answer 6

It is already too late to stop global warming completely. The latest scientific projections are that it is no longer possible to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to an average of 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. The worst-case scenario is an average global warming of 6 degrees by the end of the century, which would be catastrophic for human life. To stop this we are going to have to take action quickly.

Changing light bulbs is good, but we have to change laws in every country!

Answer 7

No, global warming is not going to stop because there is continous deforestation.

Answer 8

No, I don't think so. Since man has come upon this land, we have been ruling it. Now, we must not just rule it, but save it as well.

Answer 9

Yes. Global warming is causing problems all round the world and is only getting worse.

Answer 10

It can be slow down if people recycled and resused and turd off lights ect. ect.