I am conflicted as to the truthfulness and consequences of global warming. The problem I have is that both sides have an agenda to fulfil, and both sides pay scientists who miraculously agree with them. So it really comes down to: would I rather believe the oil companies or the environmentalists? That's a crappy choice, but I've decided that I would rather believe the ones that aren't in it for the money. Oil companies are trying to make a profit, and environmentalists are trying to help the world. It's obvious which one is more noble.
And some of the consequences:
- Changes in precipitation causing flooding and draught
- Changes in extreme weather events (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
- Disruption of agriculture, which may cause famines and death
- Lowering of ocean pH, which may cause massive extinctions and a disruption to the ecosystem
And there are others, too. It's not just about it getting wetter.
The funny thing is one that's frequently missed: one of the primary causes of global warming is the farming of cattle. Studies have shown that livestock are responsible for
18% of greenhouse emissions, which is higher than transportation. That works out to about 1.5 tonnes of emissions per year by an average person, just from eating meat! The problem is that the meat industry has a lot of money and, therefore, influence, so you rarely hear about that.
