View source for Anthropogenic global warming theory

The '''anthropogenic global warming theory''' (AGW) claims that [[human being]]s are responsible for most of the slight [[warming trend]] seen since the [[Little Ice Age]]. It is highly favored by liberals, as it provides justification for [[carbon tax]]es and the [[Kyoto Protocol]]. The consensus of climate scientists, however, is that nearly all of the recent increase in global air temperature is naturally caused.

The AGW theory is one explanation for the 1.5 degrees [[Fahrenheit|F]] of warming of the air near the earth's surface recorded since 1850.<ref>[http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/warming/ Climatic Research Unit Sheet #1]</ref> However, [[Greenpeace]] co-founder [[Patrick Moore]] said [[global warming]] is most likely a "natural phenomenon," because there is no [[proof]] of man-made global warming, and suggested that "[[alarmism]]" is driving politicians to create bad [[environmental]] policies.<ref name=greenpeace>Jonathon M. Seidl. [https://www.theblaze.com/stories/greenpeace-founder-questions-man-made-global-warming/ Greenpeace Founder Questions Man-Made Global Warming], ''[[The Blaze]]'', Posted on January 20, 2011.</ref> 

The idea that human activities, such as the combustion of [[fossil fuels]], can significantly warm the earth's atmosphere is called the enhanced [[greenhouse effect]].<ref>[http://zebu.uoregon.edu/1998/es202/l13.html Global Warming]</ref>

==Terminology==

The term "anthropogenic" comes from ''Anthropo-'' ("men") and ''genic'' ([[cause and effect|cause]]). 

==Relation to current climate change==

A panel of the [[United Nations]] is "90% sure" that most [[global warming]] since about 1950 has been caused by human beings.<ref>[http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/26979 Mankind to blame for global warming, says IPCC]</ref> But Roger Pielke, [[Professor]] of Environmental Studies at the [[University of Colorado]], said, "After Climategate, the [[surface temperature record]] is being called into question." To experts such as McIntyre and Pielke, perhaps the most baffling thing has been the near-unanimity over [[global warming]] in the world’s [[mainstream media]] - a unanimity much greater than that found among scientists.<ref>David Rose. [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235395/SPECIAL-INVESTIGATION-Climate-change-emails-row-deepens--Russians-admit-DID-send-them.html SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Climate change emails row deepens as Russians admit they DID come from their Siberian server], [[UK]] ''Mail Online'', December 13, 2009.</ref> Moreover, appearing on [[Fox Business Network]] with Stuart Varney, Greenpeace co-founder, Patrick Moore, explained why he left the organization. While talking with Varney, Moore explained that departure was in part due to the group’s "extremist positions" and it being hijacked by political and social causes as well as the left.<ref name=greenpeace/> Exposing the green movement, Moore also said he’s not the only environmentalist that believes like him.

The anthropogenic global warming theory enjoys broad based political support from [[Liberals]], [[Socialists]], as well as the U.S. [[Democratic Party]]. Supporters of the anthropogenic global warming theory frequently assert the existence of a "[[scientific consensus]],"<ref>see [[Politics of global warming]].</ref> which was revealed by [[ClimateGate]] as favoring their viewpoint while suppressing counter evidence, so that [[legislator]]s can use this false sense of scientific support to gain more power, enabling them to enact stricter legislation to combat man-made global warming. At the same time, most or all supporters of the anthropogenic global warming theory frequently declare, "the debate is over." The reality is that strict environmental legislation is not necessary, is not beneficial and in fact does more harm than good, and is outside of the [[U.S. Constitution|constitutional]] limits of the [[United States]] government.

==Global warming and polar bears==
[[Roy Innis]], chairman of the [[Congress of Racial Equality]], one of America's oldest civil rights organizations, wrote on February 4, 2008:
:Some 22,000 magnificent [[polar bear]]s now roam the [[Arctic]], and their numbers continue to increase. But bureaucrats and [[environmental activists]] want the bears designated as a "threatened" species. 
Doing so would put courts and bureaucrats in charge of any activity that produces [[greenhouse gases]]. [https://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/COMMENTARY/97426567/1012/COMMENTARY&template=nextpage]
<!-- This section needs statistics on polar bear population trends. Are liberals right that their numbers are decreasing due to warmer climate? Or are conservatives right that the slight warming trend has not reduced the number of polar bears? -->

==Zero carbon==
"Zero carbon" (short for zero [[carbon dioxide]]) is a phrase used by proponents of the AGW theory to denote the phasing out of [[fossil fuel]]s.  Various dates have been set for the achievement of this task. The [[United Kingdom]] has set 2040<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40723581</ref> as the date for banning production of vehicles with [[gasoline]] and [[diesel]] engines and 2050<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48596775</ref> as the date for complete elimination of fossil fuel use. The group [[Extinction Rebellion]] wants all fossil fuel use to end by 2025.<ref>https://rebellion.earth/the-truth/demands/</ref>  It hardly needs to be said that none of these targets is achievable.

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
*[[AGW hypothesis]]
*[[Climate crisis]]

==External links==

* [http://www.sitewave.net/news/s49p1834.htm Art Robinson Responds to Petition Slander]

{{Climategate scandal}}

[[Category:Earth Sciences]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]
[[Category:Earth Sciences]]
[[Category:Ecology]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]