The Greenhouse Effect, A Torrent of Information, and the Politics of Mass Uncertainty

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Recommended: Bibliography of global warming articles

The Greenhouse Effect, A Torrent of Information, and the Politics of Mass Uncertainty

Introduction:

Global warming, the ozone layer, and deforestation are becoming increasingly discussed topics both in the international community and society. Former Vice-President Albert Gore stated in his 1992 book Earth in the Balance, “The process of filling the atmosphere with CO2 and other pollutants…is a willful expansion of our dysfunctional civilization into vulnerable parts of the world” (Wittwer 21). With statements like this, one might wonder what stops the human race from ending this kind of behavior. Scientists and politicians are paralyzed when addressing the issue of global warming largely from uncertainty of cause/effect relationships, closeness of potential policy making to the everyday individual, and distance of potential effects. What follows is a discussion of this problem, which you will see, is not as clear cut as Al Gore’s statement.

Background; a general agreement:

The World Book Encyclopedia Millennium Edition defines the Greenhouse Effect as “a warming of the lower atmosphere and surface of the planet by a complex process involving sunlight, gases, and particles in the atmosphere.” It further notes that the Greenhouse Effect existed long before humans did, for it added about 59 degrees Fahrenheit (~33 C) to the average global temperature (World Book 382-383).

An additional increase to the Earth’s natural Greenhouse Effect has been called in general terms ‘global warming’. The World Book Encyclopedia states, “Since the late 1800’s, the average temperature has increased about 0.5 to 1.5 Fahrenheit degrees.” Attributing the increase in average temperature to the burning of fossil fuels ...

... middle of paper ...

...per, Lee, Scott Murtishaw, Fridtjof Unander. “International Comparisons of Sectoral Carbon Dioxide Emissions Using a Cross-Country Decomposition Technique.” Energy Journal. 22.2 (2001): WilsonSelectPlus Number BBPI1045462, Schewe Library, Illinois College, accessed 4/15/2003.

“Effects Will Continue for a Century, Even if Emissions are Curbed Now.” USA Today. (June 2002) WilsonSelectPlus Number BRDG02101336, Schewe Library, Illinois College, accessed 4/15/2003.

Van Dam, Laura. “Of Seashells, Ancient Climate, and Fossil Fuels.” Technology Review. (May/June 1995) WilsonSelectPlus Number BRDG95041776, Schewe Library, Illinois College, accessed 4/15/2003 .

Wittwer, Slyvan Harold. “The Great Promise of the ‘Greenhouse Effect’.” Consumers’ Research Magazine. (June 1997) WilsonSelectPlus Number BRDG97047480, Schewe Library, Illinois College, accessed 4/15/2003.

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