Just a thought.....

As I mentioned in my first post, I am new to blogging.  But have decided to set myself somewhat of a format to my posts.  The reason for this is to allow not only myself, but also anyone who is taking the time to follow me the ability to build up a picture of the topic in hand.  With this in mind, I felt it prudent to firstly consider (if only briefly) CO₂ in itself, its causes, both natural and anthropogenic and the role it plays in our atmosphere e.g. how it influences global temperatures. 

I then plan to move on to consider CO₂ levels and global temperatures of the past, the present and the future projections of CO₂ levels and the resulting influences on global temperatures. 

I do wonder, if as a result of this I will in time come to formulate any solid, satisfying answers to just some of my many questions relating to anthropogenically induced CO₂ rises.  For example; do we have a moral obligation to the other life forms of the Earth to manage the CO₂ which we produce?  Do we only manage it to save humanity or to also protect ‘nature’?  And, if we do it to protect ‘nature’ is this due to its usefulness to humanity or for its own intrinsic value?  If CO₂ levels and global temperatures of past climates have varied without the action of man then should we really concern ourselves with variances as a result of our actions now? 

I do currently feel that we should hold ourselves accountable and that we should act to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂ level increases and the resulting impacts upon the natural world.  Will my views changes as I delve deeper into the literature?  Surely the ‘business as usual’ approach is no longer viable?



Picture courtesy of; http://www.earthtimes.org/newsimage/co2-release-fast-environment-cope-geologists_66.jpg