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Revision as of 13:16, 29 January 2002 by Conversion script (talk | contribs) (Automated conversion)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Anthropogenic global warming is global warming caused by human activity, such as the production of greenhouse gases from factories and vehicles, methane emissions from cows, and the destruction of forests. Atmosphere scientists are divided on how much of the 20th century's 0.6 degree centigrade warming was caused by human activity. See global warming controversy.
Political aspects
The U.S. Democratic Party considers anthropogenic global warming to be such a well-established danger to humanity that it supports the Kyoto Protocol. President Clinton and Vice-president Gore both stated repeatedly that "the science is settled", but Clinton refused to send the Kyoto treaty to the senate for confirmation. A senate resolution condemning Kyoto passed 95-0 (i.e., not a single Democratic senator voted for it).
Many conservatives believe that the dangers of anthropogenic global warming is highly exaggerated.
Scientific Aspects
Scientists are divided on the role of human production of greenhouse gases and global warming. It is difficult to find objective scientific reporting, devoid of advocacy.
The UN sponsors the IPCC, an organization which is apparently authoritative and objective, but there is some evidence that it has rewritten scientific reports to conform to political objectives. One of the lead authors of an IPCC report is quoted as saying that the policymakers go through the report line by line, changing whatever they like, which is "peculiar." (To do: find source for this half-remembered quote.)
SEPP presents a number of scientific objections to interpretation of the available data on global warming. In particular, they point out that temperature measurements from weather balloons show no warming whatsoever in the 1979 to 1996 period when land-based thermometers show record-breaking rises. Also, they present evidence that rising temperatures cause sea level to fall (not rise, as orthodox global warming theory predicts).