Compare opinions of experts, leaders and organizations.
        

Is substantially reducing CO2 emissions worthwhile?

Topics: Global Warming   Economics   Science   Climatology  

Background

Whether human CO2 emissions cause global warming or whether reducing CO2 emissions is worthwhile are two separate questions. For example, some believe CO2 does not cause global warming, but believe reducing CO2 emissions is useful in that it would reduce dependence on foreign oil, and others believe CO2 does cause global warming, but believe adaptation is more feasible than prevention.
 
Is substantially reducing CO2 emissions worthwhile?
Possibly, if Agree then Agree with Is global warming primarily caused by humans?
Logically, if Agree then Disagree with Do negative feedback loops mostly cushion the effect of atmospheric CO2 increases?
Possibly, if Agree then Disagree with Can life adapt to a warmer earth?
Possibly, if Disagree then Disagree with Will anthropogenic CO2 emissions catastrophically increase sea levels?
Logically, if Disagree then Disagree with Should the Kyoto protocol be adopted?
Add Expert Opinion    Edit Question    Delete    History

Know of an expert who has publicly stated an opinion on this matter? Add them.


Expert Opinions

What's Your TakeOnIt?

Agree
AnswerExpert
Quote
Governor of California 2003-
The debate is over. We know the science. We see the threat posed by changes in our climate. And we know the time for action is now.     
03 Jul 2005   Source
Politics and Business Magazine
[Our] survey will argue that although the science remains uncertain, the chances of serious consequences are high enough to make it worth spending the (not exorbitant) sums needed to try to mitigate climate change.     
07 Sep 2006   Source
Disagree
AnswerExpert
Quote
Politics Professor
The IPCC's account of things seems to me only one possibility, and the evidence for it is not very strong. For that reason, I would counsel that we accept that climate changes, and learn, as indeed human beings have learned for thousands of years, to adapt to that change as rationally and sensibly as we can.     
09 Apr 2008   Source
Politics Professor, Economist, Writer
Global warming is real and caused by CO2. The trouble is that the climate models show we can do very little about the warming. Even if everyone (including the United States) did Kyoto and stuck to it throughout the century, the change would be almost immeasurable, postponing warming by just six years in 2100. Likewise, the economic models tell us that the cost is substantial. The cost of Kyoto compliance is at least $150 billion a year.     
12 Dec 2004   Source
Geologist, President of the Geological Society of India
There is some evidence to show that our planet Earth is becoming warmer and that human action is probably partly responsible, especially in the matter of greenhouse gas emissions. What is in doubt, however, is whether the steps that are proposed to be taken to reduce carbon emission will really bring down the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere and whether such attempts, even carried out on a global scale, will produce the desired effect.     
23 Aug 2007   Source