It is clearly both. In our incentivised culture, it will become more financially beneficial to "go green" than stick with the status quo. However, in an fossil fuel-based economy, adapting our infrastructure will cost a lot up front.

Forgive one off-subject tangent, but I just watched a Nat. Geo. show that portrayed nuclear silos as sources of CO2 emissions. Completely misleading, inaccurate, and wreaking of propaganda. Nuclear silos release water vapor into the atmosphere. Nat. Geo. needs to do their homework.

In watching the Naked Science episode "Climate change: melting ice caps ..." I was disappointed that there were no opposing scientific viewpoints.

Evidence indicates there have been several ice ages, and subsequent retreats. In true scientific inquisition, Naked Science should pursue scientists that have varying viewpoints.

Stopping global warming may be far beyond the means of humanity. Large-scale processes tend to be fairly independent of species inhabiting the plant. That is not to say we should ignore our global duties, only that there are far greater forces at work.

I just want to say that I agree with Ryan's post today. I couldn't have said it better. Frankly, I think the whole global warming thing is more of an anti-capitalist ageda and to think we, especially Americans are responsible is a bit egomaniacal. Who do we think we are? Last time I checked, we can't even make it rain when we want. What makes us think we can significantly influence the earth's systems? That being said, I'm all for conservation but in a responsible manner. It's like Kelly Slater said, "The earth will just shake us off like a flea whenever she is ready." Thank you for this forum. Glad to see that NG is open to others ideas. How about incorporate them in your programming?

the question should be: why isn't this a economical burden? i believe that global warming is a social opportunity for us as human beings to come together on a project that would make persons more cognizant of the effects and solutions of global warming. Global warming needs to be an economical burden because it affect society i.e economically, socially, mentally,etc.

As i was watching a show the other day called 'The Alaska Experiment' i surveyed parts of the landscape 'naked' of snow that once use to be covered for miles. I am cognizant of the fact that global warming has began longer than we have known.

its actually our duty to save the environment..the earth who gave birth 2 us..cant v give back something to it?it provides us everything v need..it fulfills our every wish..atleast not a big contribution but some small things we can stop by ourselves...Come on give it a push & go for it
WE are humans & nothing is impossible for us...

I agree it's both- but it's something we all have to look at with open minds and realize the obvious truth that humanity is ruining the eco-system. We are pumping large volumes of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and other gases which are changing the weather and runing the ozone layer too. It's ludicrous to think we aren't responsbible for at least part of the global warming that is occurring. The polar caps of both ends of the globe are falling apart- Antarctica is falling apart as great sheets of ice are breaking off at an alarming rate. Greenland is losing all of it's ice...the North Pole is melting at an unprecedented rate. We are at a tipping point and must make changes now and get off fossil fuels. Our country can do this- we can wean ourselves of fossil fuels and develop new power sources. If we can go to the moon and send robots to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto and beyond we can do this. Let's stop being so selfish and take care of the only home we have- the only place we can survive before it's too late for us and our children.

I agree with Jody- we are at a tipping point in the history of humanity on Earth. We obviously have polluted the atmosphere, have poisoned the oceans as well and are at a place in our history where we either have the wisdom to look truthfully at what we have done to the Planet and correct it- or face extinction. This is not time for belligerency or political ignorance- it's time to look at the problem and resolve to correct it. Surely science has shown that there have been times on the Earth where it has gone through very warm and very cold periods and the Polar Regions may have melted- no one knows for sure but it appears that way- but the poles are melting and falling apart- species are threatened with extinction- and this all affects us one way or another. We either exercise the wisdom to overcome our ignorance of the issues or face the dire consequences. With Nuclear Weapons, even some of the smaller countries which now posess them could start a war that could easily destroy the planet. It's time to stop being stupid and selfish and join together and clean up the world and look to a future of promise. It seems a lot to ask when we look at the way some countries are all polarized from each other- but it's still possible. We can't look for a God to swoop down to the Earth and give humanity an Ultimate Warning- we must do this ourselves and should be ashamed what we have done to the Planet- much due to selfishness. I don't expect Klatu and Gort to land in Washington DC and give Earth a final ultimatum...the Earth has already given one and we better listen.

Hello.Unfortunately World's ecosystems and enviromental problems giving us dangerously alarms.Climate changes,Amazon rain forests,glacirs are malting speedly,Coral reefs pollutions-corruptions,more powerly tornaos,typhoons...and many others .If we look envioment departman web site we can add many others problems to this list.İf we change his dangerous situation ;we must more sensetive to all natural sources.Responsible organizations and goverments must be more serious and honest for to solve these negative developments.Only to discuss is insufficient.Of course we want to urge responsible peoples but do they interest our messages and maybe they don't need our views because they have all details about these global problems?Generaly trade pruduction companies are reponsible(harmful chemicals,fossil energy sources,some machines and industries giving big damages)They can't and don't want to changes their production standarts for some advanteges.For example everybody know harmful ciggaretes,weapon industry(about 1.3 trillion USA dolars yearly) production damages .But nobody can stop like these and other harmful industry branches .By the way ;I'm a Jehovah's Witness and I believe our lovely God will make radical solve soon ,acording to His Holy Bible's prophecies(you can look for more informations, our web site :www.watchtower.org )On the other hand another news on Nat.Geog. was about Skeleton Giant .We don't know first human couple body sizes.But as long as Noah's Flood Giants were living under the earth(like dinasours and other sea fishes,heaven birds and earth animals.During flood heaven and under the dust animals died and destroyed by Creator.But at seas like whales,big sharkes are still living despite hunters.Acording to my personal comment probably Before Flood maybe human had more bigger body size like giants but we don't have any serious evidence yet.This N.G.C.artickle news can be a evidence maybe who know?Flood had been B.C.2370 and near to this time acording to Egypt Pharaohs's mummies human body sizes were like us about.By the way before near time of the flood;some angels lived with human body on earth and the had some children , they had very big human size body acording to Bible;so we can say perfect information and speculation about this subject.On the other hand for first subject ;we wish about enviromental problems more sensetively emergency expecients.With my deep regards...

i am very worry about global warming,i think solution is everyone grow tree and save tree save our self save earth.stop use petrol,desal,mostly use solar anargy, sorry i donot know more enlish language,and i am only 10th standard pass.but i know what is global warming and i try to stop.when i live,there upset wather now.i have proof. thanks every body.good luck and please try to stop global warming.

i am very worry about global warming,i think solution is everyone grow tree and save tree save our self save earth.stop use petrol,desal,mostly use solar anargy, sorry i donot know more enlish language,and i am only 10th standard pass.but i know what is global warming and i try to stop.when i live,there upset wather now.i have proof. thanks every body.good luck and please try to stop global warming.

when i live,envirnment is distub.i think the solution is grow tree,save tree stop global warming,i try to grow tree and stop global warming,i have no more education but i know about global warming i am 10th pass.i donot know more english language but i know about global warming.i know to everyone please grow tree stop use more petrol.