Climate Change Debates Heat Up

As we discussed in a recent post, SheSpeaks is taking part in Blog Action Day this year by opening up a discussion about climate change. Talk of climate change and the ways it affects the planet has become a part of our daily lives, especially in the last few years. We have been watching the debate heat up recently as nations meet to discuss a possible international agreement to fight climate change. The debate will come to a head in a couple of months when delegates from 192 nations meet in Copenhagen to draw out the framework on how we will reduce global emissions.

We are also seeing environmental activists speaking out on the subject, some making grand gestures to have their voices heard. The Associated Press just reported that a group of activists in London scaled Britain’s Parliament building on Sunday holding large yellow signs to draw attention to the issue of climate change. One protester on the site, Anna Jones, states that "We are here to remind them that they simply haven’t done enough to stop climate change and we need to see some action at home."

If you take a look at recent headlines regarding climate change, it is no wonder that people are up in arms on the topic. A recent study coming out of Kashmir University’s geology and geophysics department reports that Indian Kashmir’s glaciers are melting at a fast rate due to higher than normal temperatures. This news threatens the water supply of millions living in the Himalayan region.

And reports from Swiss researchers show the Alpine Glacier is melting and leaking harmful chemicals that were once used widely in the 60’s and 70’s into the surrounding waters. Researchers from the study talk about the dangers this type of run-off will pose, "Considering ongoing global warming and accelerated massive glacier melting predicted for the future, our study indicated the potential for dire environmental impacts due to pollutants delivered into pristine mountainous areas."

What do you think about the issue of climate change and how it affects the planet?

What are you hoping will be the outcome of the much anticipated meeting of nations in Copenhagen this December?

By cybrown551
11.15.09

From the facts and stories that I have read and listened to on the news, I believe that we do have a real big issue with climate change. And from what I can see is that the ice lands are melting and the water is rising. And this has been going on for some time now and it is getting worst. So in that case I believe that we as a nation should take concern with that issue ASAP. I?m not sure as to the remedy, but, neither are the scientists. It is a real concern that we need to take into account. I hope that we as a nation can find a remedy to this growing problem.
By AimeeAken
11.12.09

Man-made global warming does not exist. Both the IPCC and the CSIRO should be challenged to justify their reckless and baseless climate scare-mongering.
By AimeeAken
11.12.09

In Australia, many long term temperature records show that for the last century rural temperatures were stable or falling, but temperatures recorded in the big cities show slight warming. There is ZERO global warming of the atmosphere, just a bit of urban heating near big cities. This heating is caused, not by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but by heat generated from increasing urban human activities - heaters, appliances, air-conditioners, cars, trains, planes, concrete and bitumen all pumping new heat into the air. And the temperature measuring spots that were once in bushy outer suburbs are now surrounded by cars, concrete and airports. This urban heat causes hot air to rise, may generate a storm or two, and the heat is lost harmlessly to space.
By AimeeAken
11.12.09

Climate fluctuations continue in modern times, but not in step with industrial man?s carbon dioxide emissions. When industry declined in the Great Depression of the 1930s, CO2 emissions fell but temperatures rose to a peak. Then during the immediate post war boom in industry, emissions soared but temperatures fell and there were fears of a new ice age starting. Now, since the start of the new century, with emissions from China and India booming, world temperatures are again falling.
By AimeeAken
11.12.09

A mere 20,000 years ago, massive ice sheets covered much of the earth. The sparse population led a cold hungry existence. Then just 12,000 years ago, there was dramatic natural global warming - ice sheets melted, sea levels rose and the warming seas expelled carbon dioxide. The warmth and extra carbon dioxide plant food in the atmosphere encouraged the spread of grasslands, forests, animals and humans over lands once covered by thick, barren sheets of ice. None of these beneficial climate changes were caused by emissions from the camp fires of the Cave Men. Since then earth has experienced a see-saw of minor natural heating and cooling. The most recent warming phase started at the depth of the Little Ice Age about 300 years ago, before James Watt invented the steam engine. There were no emissions from cars, trucks, trains, planes or cement plants, but still the planet warmed up.
By AimeeAken
11.12.09

First off, the melting of the polar ice caps is a supposedly ?strong? piece of evidence that supports global warming. Let me throw a year out for you: 1914. Still don?t get it? Let me throw a ship out for you (like God did with this one): the Titanic. It ran into a floating iceberg! Ice has been melting since before we had cars. Ever left an ice cube tray out after using a couple cubes because you were too lazy to put it back? Notice that the next day, your hungover ass found that ice cube tray completely melted?in your air-conditioned home? Ice melts anywhere, in any condition, in any temperature (well, not in temperatures below freezing, but whatevs).
By AimeeAken
11.12.09

We can not alter climate changes. The earth goes through a cycle, just as it always has since it has existed.
By simplicity738
11.05.09

I think there's way too many people who still believe that these are all lies. I definitely feel that this is an issue that we need to care more about, but I think organizations and individuals need to raise awareness in a more effective manner. How? I can't say that I would even know, but what I do know is we've got to do something fast, otherwise we're going to wake up one day to a world of nothing.
By sharman421
11.02.09

You're right, it is common sense. But we have been recycling and conserving, and teaching about it in the schools for years before Gore made it into a monopoly! I'm sorry, but he has politicized it and made it virtually impossible for scientists to be honest in their recent findings and to have a solid educated debate over it.
By cvarano
11.01.09

Yes climate change has been happening the entire existence of earth itself, but yes we have also had an effect on the acceleration of it. Who cares about Al Gore's scare tactics. If it's scaring people into recycling and putting up solar panels then keep it coming. Being conscious about the environment which we live in and breath the air in is a good thing. It's not a political argument. It's common sense.

SHESPEAKS Your Power to Influence