I agree Bazz, if more people (and politicians) realised that securing a ‘cleaner’ energy future was more important, then AGW (as a symptom) would be less problematic.

Nevertheless, some people are “interested in AGW” (unlike you) because that is their job. The problem with your “earth has been warming since the Maunder Minimum … maybe it is now reaching its ‘normal’ temperature” is the false premise (or assumptions) that the statement is made on.

For example: whatever set of events caused the Maunder Minimum in the first place has done a reversal and has then led to a global warming. Bazz, there are experts that study this stuff – they are not stupid. All the empirical data and observations to date (not computer modelling) show that the Earth’s energy imbalance cannot have been caused by natural variations alone. The enhanced greenhouse effect (non-natural variations a.k.a. AGW) is real.

See ‘Principles of Planetary Climate’ (2010) ISBN: 9780521865562

Anyway, as quoted before, ‘things aren't working like they used to ... The rupture between environmental values and economic growth has always been there and bodes ominously for the future of our planet ... We will also learn the bitter truth all over again that the economy always trumps the environment. Nothing will change until politics and how we live with nature itself changes."