A Common-Sense View of Climate Change

Before we all start to panic about climate change, let's remember that the climate on planet earth has always been in a state of change. There have been various ice ages just as there have been extended periods of hotter weather. Sea levels have risen and fallen. Carbon dioxide levels have come and gone. And mankind has survived it all.

Ah yes, say the scientists, but this change is the biggie, with temperatures, sea-levels and CO2 set to soar to astronomical heights. Okay, scientists do know more than the average person - or so they tell us - but when you read stuff written by scientists about climate change you can't help but notice one thing. Most of it seems to be filled with theories.

Do this experiment. Click on some scientific research about climate change on the Internet and copy it into a Word document. Now highlight all these words: -

- Theory.
- Theorise.
- Experiment.
- Could possibly.
- Uncertainty.
- Obscured.
- Does not fully explain.
- Suggest.
- Possibility.
- Estimate.
- We think we know.
- May have.

Most articles written by scientists or by people who have studied their work are full of such words - words of uncertainty. Doesn't this tell us that perhaps they don't actually know as much as they say they know? Of course we should look after the planet as best we can and scientists certainly help us do that. Growing plants and not wasting the earth's resources are two major ways to help.

Mel writes about various topics ranging from climate change to sustainable living.