Despite there being a [url=http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus]scientific consensus[/url] in regards to global warming, about half of the United States still denies that human activity is influencing the very fragile balance of our atmosphere. The [url=http://77zero.org/files/2010/01/co2-temperature.JPG]graph here[/url] and above show the close relationship between global temperature and carbon dioxide levels. It also shows that the amount of carbon dioxide has risen to an unprecedented level never before seen on the planet earth. This unnatural rise in carbon dioxide due to human activity has already caused global temperatures to rise. The first and most noticeable effect global warming has had so far is on the polar ice caps, which is retreating our shorelines due to the rise in sea levels. They're also making glaciers disappear, which are important because they supply fresh water to 40% of the world. The effects of global climate change go on and on. The science is there. The consensus is there. We know it's happening and we know why. What's still missing is public support. Because science can be rather complicated, it's sometimes easier for people to just blot it out and full out deny it. Unfortunately however, ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away. In fact, the United States is significantly behind other countries and does not meet the expectations of scientific literacy among its pupils. Worse, its politicians refuse to vote for legislation that would stop and slow the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This thread is to help reeducate people who still deny the science of global warming, and to ponder the many reasons why people resort to the denial of this global problem. Further reading: http://www.noaa.gov/climate.html http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence http://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/ http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ http://www.ipcc.ch/ https://www.un.org/en/globalissues/climatechange/ http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/primer/index.html