Runner, why is it arrogant to think man cannot influence the climate?

Either man is part of nature, part of the environment. Trees changed the global environment, and climate, by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. Do we think this is arrogant of trees? Bacteria and fungi change the soil, corals build land. Life everywhere changed the earth. So why not man, given our numbers and technology.

Perhaps you believe that man is not part of nature but a special creation? Then man's effect on the environment, including the climate, is just a side-effect of man following God's instruction to fill the earth and subdue it. Of course, given that man is imperfect, sometimes he messes things up. But even so, why would it be arrogant for man to carry out God's will?

Mr Opinion,
Wow, big words. If they mean man-assisted then yes, I agree !

Mr Opinion I can only assume you are trying to tell us that the US dust bowl was due to all the SUVs driving around the plains at the time.

I know I shouldn't bother, but I must ask if you have heard of the little ice age. That was when they held Ice Fairs on the frozen Thames river each winter. It was one of the coldest times in the last 10,000 years. This was sun spot related, as will be the cool period we are also entering now. We are still warming back to average from that, or were until it started cooling again.

Of course there were the medieval warm period & the roman warm period, caused no doubt by the exhausts of all the horses of those knights in shining armour, & the chariot horses of the Romans & Egyptians.

I have seen pictures of the horse races held in the dry bed of the Darling at the time of federation, guess that drought was caused by all the coal we weren't burning in power houses back then.

Of course the 28 year drought just before the old Captain Cook sailed Endeavour up the east coast must have been caused by those damn aboriginals driving their SUVs around the place, & burning so much coal.

If you want to discuss this stuff, do try to get a little background first, some of us have done quite a bit of reading & thinking before forming our considered opinion.

Cossomby,
I am another that think that it is very arrogant of those that believe man can change the world climate. Why, we cannot even make it rain when we want, despite countless money being spent on efforts.

It is those that are afflicted with the climate warming religion that believe that man is some special creation that has the ability to change the world. Occasionally mother nature shows us that we are not in charge and she has far superior powers and influence. This can be a quick demo like an earthquake, storm, tornado or maybe a spectacular volcano. But we can be constantly reminded because of continental drift and our lack of influence over wind and tides.

Sorry old boy, but you and Belly should take more note of the natural happenings around you.

Of course the climate changes, Greenland proves that, but the changes are determined by mother nature, not mankind.

The wheels fell off the little red wagon of global warming long ago and the kids in England still know what snow is.

Probably not strictly on topic - apart from the "childlike science" - but this from Jennifer Marohasay this morning was interesting:

"Indeed, all our science is primitive and childlike when measured against the reality of the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef — that has existed for 10,000 years despite floods, droughts and climate change."

The current Great Barrier Reef exists because of climate change, not in spite of it. It started growing in its current form and position about 8000 years ago as the sea level rose after the ice sheets of the last glaciation melted. It reached its current form about 4000 years ago. However it is built on the remains of ancient reefs 10s to 100s of thousands of years old. These grew when the sea level on the continental shelf was the right height, and temperature was suitable, and died when the water became too deep or retreated and left the reef exposed, or when water temperature got too hot or too cold. The reefs changed continually over time, and will change again depending on sea level and temperature.