I am a sckeptic, That means I am not convinced that AGW is real.
It does not mean that I "Know" that it is false, it means that I
suspect that it is false.

On that basis I think we should suspend all expenditure on CO2 suppression.
However we will need alternative sources of energy.
Already we have seen the decline of conventional oil causing the
exploitation of unconventional oil, deep sea, tar sands, shale etc etc.
The mixing of these oils is pushing up the pump prices.
The well head costs for conventional is around $40 a barrel.
The well head costs for unconventional is around $90 to $100 a barrel.

This is the cause of increasing pump prices. As conventional declines
the ratio changes and the price must rise.
Automatically the price rises to the maximum we can afford.
This is the effect of peak oil being history.

The same is just starting with coal, In most parts of the world
coal seams are getting more expensive to mine.

This is the discussion that should replace AGW arguments.

http://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2009/12/09/willis-eschenbach-caught-lying/
There ya go Chris. Sheesh!

It is interesting that people can easily see the damage we do on the small scale, but on the global scale then they suddenly become blind.

The reality is that all life alters both the atmosphere and the climate, the atmosphere originally contained practically no oxygen. Photolysis was the first mechanism to produce small amounts of oxygen, but it was not until photosynthesis appeared, that plants managed to dramatically alter oxygen concentrations by converting CO2 and releasing oxygen in the process. Initially the oxygen reacted with raw metals to form oxides for example iron ore. It was not until that process was complete, did the level of oxygen in the atmosphere really take off. The life form that achieved this feat was predominately various forms of algae.

By burning fossil fuels we are attempting to reverse the process. To understand the consequences it is only necessary to understand that the sun over a couple billions of years has been slowly increasing its output to the present such that it is some 25% greater than the time that life first appeared. Despite this global temperatures have remained in a fairly stable, which has allowed life to sustained. The only rational explanation is the reduction in the greenhouse effect caused by of the gradual decline of CO2.

The problem is that pumping large quantities of CO2 back into the atmosphere will reverse the gradual cooling effect which has compensated for the increased heat output of the sun, and just as it did in the distant pass reduce the rate of heat loss. The science tells us what happened in the past, and is by far the best guide to the future. It is abundantly clear altering the level of CO2 in the atmosphere will affect the climate. I find strange that people even ask do you believe in climate change, it is not a question of faith it is one of science.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faint_young_Sun_paradox
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/Perry_Samson_lectures/evolution_atm/

Well Robert LePage, I do try to talk intelligently to people like you, so I guess I must be really stupid.

But to return the favor regarding income, you wouldn't be employed by an organisation benefiting from AGW research grants, or taxpayer subsidy of alternate generation by any chance would you?

One thing that is for sure, when governments try to suppress knowledge, you can bet they are up to no good. Could one of you warmists please explain why they would want to suppress the simple fact that the planet has stopped warming? Don't be frightened to use the word payola in your answer, in fact you probably can't answer the question without using it.

Hasbeen,

The 'planet' has not stopped warming as you seem to think. Most of the warming is being taken up by the oceans.

In another thread you imply you have a BSc Mech Eng - very unlikely given your (mis)understanding of the science.

You made the statement "One thing that is for sure, when governments try to suppress knowledge, you can bet they are up to no good."

So you think the current government is up to no good - I have to agree with you there.

“I guess I must be really stupid.”

I am glad that you agree with me that you are stupid.

”But to return the favour regarding income, you wouldn't be employed by an organization benefiting from AGW research grants, or taxpayer subsidy of alternate generation by any chance would you?”

I wish but the answer is no.

Of course the IPCC does not admit that there has been no warming, this is a ploy by the denialist industry to muddy the waters before the report comes out.