Arguments Against Global Warming

The year was somewhere in the future. Man’s environment had undergone a dramatic upheaval. Trees were scarce and you could find them in abundance in only carefully maintained sanctuaries. The air was filled with particulate matter. Visibility was greatly diminished. The vast ocean was pumped and the seawater was being processed in desalination plants. Tigers and lions had become extinct. The Himalayas were devoid of snow and ice. Antarctica was a warm continent. Much of Asia and Africa had become uninhabitable because of very hot climate. Cancer and lung diseases were rampant. The weather was characteristically fickle. One didn’t know what to expect. A cold winter spell was followed by a scorching summer, which was perhaps followed by a torrential downpour.

The issue of global warming

The above scenario is not science fiction but a reality which global warming could cause. Global warming is the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere caused by greenhouse gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. There has been growing awareness and concern among people about this phenomenon. It has become a global issue although it is hotly debated in international circles. It has a fair share of supporters and critics. Its proponents warn that if immediate preventive steps are not taken it will have a disastrous effect on future humankind. Its detractors argue that the problem is grossly overestimated and nothing should be done. They also argue that the steps to tackle the problem will hinder economic progress.

Arguments against global warming

Here we take a look at the arguments against global warming:

• It is argued that global warming is a minor issue because of which major issues like HIV/AIDS, Nuclear proliferation and poverty are not devoted their deserved time and resources.
• Vested interest of scientists. It is argued that scientists exaggerate the effects of global warming because they receive funds from environmental companies.
• Unreliability of computer climate models. It is argued that these models are not able to predict tomorrow’s weather. So how can they predict long-term climate change?
• There are other factors involved in global warming. It is argued that human activities are not the only cause of global warming.
• Newspapers sensationalize global warming in order to sell. It is argued that newspapers distort the picture of global warming when actually that is not the case.
• Scientists have made wrong predictions before. It is argued that science and scientists are not always right. Perhaps they have made an error in their calculations or drawn incorrect conclusions on available evidence.
• The science of global warming is not proved. It is argued that we don’t have long term historical records of weather.
• Water vapor plays a major part in global warming. It is argued that man made emissions like carbon dioxide has only minor effects.
• The global warming is a natural phenomenon. Man has no role to play in it. Only our environment is responsible.
• The temperature increase is very small especially when it is spread over a century.
• The earth was warmer before. That did not have harmful consequences on humans.
• The increase in temperature will help plants grow in currently cold and uninhabitable areas.
• The increase in the level of carbon dioxide will stimulate plant growth.
• Steps to limit global warming will decrease economic growth and hurt the poor.
• People in fossil fuel industries will lose their jobs.
• Climate change has been more rapid in the past.
• Rise in carbon dioxide levels has always come after a temperature change and not before.
• The upsurge in solar activity in the sun has caused global warming.

One realizes that most of the arguments against global warming are factually incorrect or far fetched. People advocating these arguments have a vested interest in activities and industries that contribute to global warming. Unfortunately they are able to sway a section of the population that global warming is not a serious issue. Earnest efforts must be taken to dispel these myths and make the earth a better place to live in.