Hidden Volcanoes Melt Antarctic Glaciers from Below

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The evidence is only over whelming to serious scientists who study climate change, not to ordinary people. The 97% consensus came from polling of IPCC scientists who have deep understanding of the subject. Ordinary people understanding of climate change is shallow based on conflicting evidence in headline news. Polling from the public showed only around 50% believe in climate change.

The same applied to evolution. The evidence of evolution is overwhelming only to serious scientists, not to ordinary people. Polling from scientists from the National Academy of Science showed over 90% of the scientists believe in evolution and reject creationism. Polling from the public showed very different statistic. Majority of the US population including GW Bush believe in creationism and reject evolution.
 
There are reasons besides the supposed contribution of fossil fuels to climate change that in my opinion make a transition towards more sustainable energy sources (and policy necessary):

- rising prices for fossil fuels by continuing growth of demand and decline of reserves (oil, coal and gas)
- lack of long term availability (it is a given that at some time in the future we will have used all - economically feasible - fossil fuels)
- pollution by extraction (general effects to the ecology - logistical network - leaks)
- pollution by use (fine dust particles - human health - ecology)
- dependence on producers of fossil fuels (wars - foreign policy)
- and many more

For me it really doesn't matter anymore why climate change is happening and who is responsible. What is clear is that it is time to focus on the future of our planet, our lives and the lives of our (future) loved ones. The way we depend on fossil fuels is risky for reasons stated above and when not dealt with will pose a significant risk to the well being and survival of the world as we know it.

Have you ever thought about the effect of rising energy prices? Households will no longer be able to afford energy bills worsening their financial situation, travelling will become much more expensive, companies are forced to raise their prices (including food) because of the rise in costs. The effect of all this? The people who are already worst off - the poor - will simply lose all future perspective and the financial pressure on those that do have a job will increase.

In my opinion it is time to go back to independence in energy (but also in food, goods and services). Learn to take care of yourself and the people around you. Stop looking at the government and big companies to provide you with affordable energy, food and everything else. Start learning about and investing in (local) sustainable energy, locally grown foods, locally produced products and local skills. I strongly believe that it is possible to start moving towards a situation were a we go back to spending our money to the local middle class workers instead of the over payed top managers hundreds of miles away who do not care about you or their employees. The alternative is to shift the problems that we see today towards our children and our grandchildren, a legacy I would much rather avoid...
 
Hello; Some centuries ago only a few people came to understand that the earth moved around the sun. The majority of people who thought about it believed the sun moved around the earth. It took a long time for understanding to trump belief. We each get to believe pretty much anything we choose. The trick is to tie a belief to some sort of proof. That we have a heliocentric solar system came to be understood after many sincere people tested the notion over and over and in many different ways. The skeptics came up with some complicated ways to explain away a sun centered model, but in time the truth won out.

The truth will win out regardless of any belief. We often get to the truth by way of understanding. I have followed the progress of climate science since 1970. The understanding about how climate works has slowly been gained. The likely outcome is that at some point years from now the kernel of truth will be truly known.

I happen to now be of the opinion that the activities of people are making a significant impact on our environment. Our impact on climate may turn out to be a layer upon the natural climate factors, but is likely to be damaging. Even if our impact on global climate turns out to be as feared, to my thinking climate change will be one of the more minor negative outcomes of human activity. As others have posted there are other potentially more serious impacts from the burning of fossil fuels.

Those who survive will at some point have an understanding of the true impact we have had on our home world.
 
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