The Science Behind Climate Change

[Zach Miller]

What would convince you personally to stand up and take action against major climate change such as greenhouse gases and global warming? How drastic would the change need to be? Would the sky need to be falling down?

An article in the New York Times has recently discussed how political the battle of global warming has become recently. Do you feel as though some of these predictions for the future are political or honest attempts at preparing the world for the future? Are the claims for drastic climate change in the near future an overestimation or spot on?

Have you personally noticed or recognized any of the changes that have occurred because of global climate change? It has been argued that much of this climate change is a result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. Do you feel that it is our human obligation to act upon preventing these changes since we have discovered that it is, at the very least, partly our own fault?

[Lina M]

3) I can't say that I've definitely noticed changes based on the global climate change simply because I haven't really followed the subject too thoroughly. I think that even if global climate change is real or not or that it's our fault or isn't our fault, there can be no harm in trying to better our technology so as to ensure the safety of the planet. If we concentrate on finding solutions like making our cars more efficient or reducing waste so that we're not ruining the oceans and seas as much as we already are is a step in the right direction even if the problem is immense or if it was just a hoax. I feel as though all this talking and trying to prove there is a problem is silly (however I do acknowledge that there is an issue with government funding and whether its a waste or not to use it...I don't really have an answer for that one though).

[Nikki Melzz]

#3) I have noticed changes in the weather as a result from Global Warming. Our winter was pretty mild here in State College compared to previous years and I feel like we get less and less snow each year, not that I'm complaining. Though it is scary to witness huge glaciers melting and knowing the fate of animals who's homes are melting away. Its frightening to see species die off, and it is going to happen. I learned in a course how much one species dying off can effect our economy. If the glaciers keep melting the polar bears will most likely become extinct. Because seals are their main source of food, they will become overpopulated and then the fish that they eat can be come extinct or very hard to find which can effect restaurants and other fishing businesses. If this problem keeps advancing who knows how it will affect us and it really does scare me, mostly because I know so little on the topic. And yes, I fully believe it is the human's fault for letting our world get the way it is today. We took all of our resources for granted and I'm not saying we are getting what we deserve, but maybe we should have been more sensible with how we used our resources given.

[Chang]

3# I think I have notice some changes on the global climate. In past few years, each season's weather has been slightly changed. For example, in winter season, we "usually" have snow from November till the end of February, or early March. This year, we have snow even early April, which we could tell the global climate (or the pattern of the season) has been slightly changed. Personally, I do think that the global warming is human's fault, that we destroyed the environment and cause the changes on the weather.

[Nicky Mas]

1. For me to personally stand up and take action against greenhouse gases and global warming, I would need to know whether or not a major climate change would occur in my lifetime. Obviously if something bad were to happen in my lifetime, I would most likely stand up and take action on the issue. The sky would not have to be falling down for me to take action. Probably something as drastic as sea levels rising taking out many beachfront homes around the world. I would also take action if a species becomes extinct because of climate change. (Polar Bear)

[Sean K]

1. It would not take a whole lot to engage in taking action against global warming and climate change for me because it is really not hard for anyone to do on an individual level. People should just focus on living greener lives and not have a wasteful mentality and as a result, we will not pollute the environment and face these environmental challenges that we currently do. Several things that an individual can do to help the environment include owning environmentally friendly electronics, efficient cars like hybrids and cars with good gas mileage, and homes that are designed to let more sunlight in. Also doing simple things like carpooling or turning off lights and electronics when they are not used are helpful. Many places I have visited do not even recycle and that is such an easy task. People say that they want to make a difference and go green but yet as a society we still buy the big SUV with bad gas mileage and carpooling is never practiced. Smog is prevalent in our cities in the summer and we burn through fossil fuels at an incredible rate. As a society if we can just start finding ways to use renewable resources that are cleaner than fossil fuels and if each individual makes a conscientious effort to be greener by taking any number of easy efforts as listed above, then we will not have to worry about global warming and climate change as much because we will be living in a cleaner environment

[Param D]

1) For me to personally take action against climate change and global warming I think it would have to affect me in an economic way. For example, I usually use fluorescent light bulbs rather than incandescent ones mainly because for a similar price I can get a longer lifetime and much less energy consumption, which leads to me saving money; the fact that it is good for the environment is just an additional advantage. Similarly higher gas prices almost always cause a drop in heavy, inefficient SUVs and an increase in demand for hybrids and smaller cars simply because it is much easier to understand a need for change when it hits your wallet, rather than sacrificing personal luxury for the welfare of the rest of society when the cause might not even significantly alter your life at all