Part 1: A Closer Look at the Evidence1. The first graph on the NASA site shows the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, comparing across time. It shows that for all time, there were fluctuations in the level of CO2 in the atmosphere, but that the level always remained below 300 parts per million. The graph takes a sharp uptick in recent years, and by the time we get to the 20th century it is basically a straight upward line, to the present level around 400ppm. The 1950 level was only at around 320, so nearly a quarter of the carbon in the atmosphere has been added in about the last 70 years or so, and that is for all-time.
The UK website explains that the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the environment has occurred since the Industrial Revolution, which brought about many changes in technology, including the development of fossil fuel engines.
2. The NASA site outlines the falling different supporting data for climate change:
Global temperature increase of 1.1C since the late 19th century
Oceans warmed 0.302F sine 1969
Shrinking ice sheets, especially in Greenland and Antarctica
Glacial retreat
Decreased snow cover
Sea level rise
Declining Arctic sea ice
Increase in...
But there are also some differences between the lists, including snow cover, rainfall, changes in nature, extreme weather events and ocean acidification.
3. There are going to be many effects of climate change, and these effects are going to occur over a period of centuries. These include increased temperatures, which will lead to increased growing seasons, but will also lead to changes in precipitation patterns, more heat waves and droughts, more intense storms, sea level rise, and the Arctic will become ice free. There will be impacts that are different in different regions.
Part II. Economic Growth
We know that economic growth typically impacts other species negatively – or at least most of them. For the most part, economic growth comes at the expense of using the earth's resources, and leaving behind pollution, devastation or both.…
