Global warming my arse

the-smiling-buddha If the IPCC worst case secenario is 2ft rise in sea levels how to you make out that a 20ft rise is credible..?

The IPCC's very conservative (by their own admission) estimate of sea level rises is in fact 1.4 ft (43cm) - The collapse of one of the major ice sheets (Greenland or West Antarctica) would be in addition to this.

the-smiling-buddha
a worst case scenario means the worst case. So either the scenario is wrong or Al Gore is wrong, there ain't no third way, sunshine.

Let me try and explain your misunderstanding.

A sea level rise of 1.4ft is not a 'worst case scenario', it is more correctly at the top end of the predicted sea level change.

You have taken the very real IPCC predictions, called the top end of the range the 'worst case scenario' and seem to be using it as a semantic device to limit any further sea level rises.

The IPCCs figures are an 'ambient' estimate and make no comment on possible ice sheet collapse.

IPCC predictions point to a sea level rise of between 28cm and 43cm.

If there is a collapse of one of the major ice sheets the sea level rise could be as much as 600cm (20 ft).

the-smiling-buddha
Al Gore then went on to be found out having $30,000 electricity bills in his southern mansion, which he offset by buying carbon credits from his own company. That I believe entitles me to question his credibility, because if you are going to preach, you got to stand by what you preach, and if you follow his example, then if you are rich you just go out and buy yourself a green conscience.

Ad hominem alert !

Normally I would try and not get involved in an ad hominem, but to be honest I am a little confused, what is wrong with buying carbon credits from your own company ?

the-smiling-buddha
As far as I understand it, it looks as if gloabl temperatures are rising, man most likely has made a contribution to this, however climate change is cyclical (for example the ice ages) and there are other factors that may contribute, the orbit of the earth, sun spot activity etc. If you read the IPCC report or at least the summary on wikipedia no one no where can tell you in which proportions each of these factors effect the climate. Therefore my initial question about 'how do we know' is a quite a reasonable question.

It is reasonable to ask.

What kind of response would alleviate your doubts ?