A take on recent confirmation that the planet is not only warming, but is doing so primarily because of human activity.

Article: The worst-kept secret arrives: IPCC summary released

If there remains a shadow of doubt in your mind that the global climate change is a real and present threat to our way of life you have just become part of the minority. A recent study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has concluded that the level of the gas C02 (carbon dioxide) has steadily increased since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Following a simple trend line based upon ice core samples we can easily see that the current level of carbon dioxide is well above any prior naturally occurring peak in the historical record. Unlike climatological data which has only been recorded for a few hundred years, C02 levels can adequately be measured over a span of millions of years. Concussion: there is nothing wrong with the data.

Based upon terrestrial atmospheric studies and information we have about other planets in our solar system, we know that C02 directly contributes to the surface temperature of a planet by causing it to absorb energy and making the atmosphere warmer. We have seen a direct correlation between the amount of C02 gas in the atmosphere and the ambient air temperature of a planet. Based upon these findings scientist hypothesis that an increase in C02 gas will result in an increase in surface temperature. Conclusion: C02 gas contributes to planetary warming.

Thus, these two items being consistent and true, the recent summation that C02 gasses are increasing on our planet leads us to the direct and supported scientific argument that increased C02 emissions by human activity contributes to the warming of planet Earth.

Q: Is climate change caused by humans?
A: It does not matter. If we do not reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the planet will continue to warm.

Q: Can we stop it?
A: Possibly, but we must act now. Further investigation has revealed that the increase in C02 occurs over an extended period of time. Thus if we theoretically stopped all C02 emissions today the C02 level in the atmosphere would continue to rise for a period of time.

Q: What will happen?
A: Theories vary but most include melting ice caps, a rise in sea level and a shift in weather patterns. This can be both good and bad, however it will result in a life altering shift our environment.

Q: When will this happen?
A: No one knows, and if they tell you otherwise they are a liar or trying to sell something. We do know that if things continue as they are we will ultimately encounter a point of no return at which the environment becomes so out of sorts that nothing we do will correct it.

Q: What can we do?
A: Reduce C02 emissions. Methane also plays a similar role in atmospheric warming but we are not actively excreting it with every breath we take.

Q: Does my hybrid vehicle help?
A: No. The internal combustion engine that charges the battery emits carbon dioxide. The manufacturing process that created the plastics, rubber and metal in the car emits carbon dioxide.

Q: What is the REAL solution? A: A system wide modification of our very society. We must find new, cleaner ways to produce power, building materials, and food. We must put in place more vegetation and technology that can adequately metabolize carbon dioxide and remove it from the air we breath. We must stop traveling in the direction of more C02 and start traveling in the direction of less C02.