This is an issue that tends to polarize opinion, as is obvious from this discussion.
Being of the opinion myself that the human race has a major impact on the planet, I think it would help if some of the deniers took an objective view of the situation, and look at this in ecological terms.
The human race has long ago outgrown its ecological niche, and now our activities are damaging ecosystems which are all interdependent on each other, and ultimately form the entire biosphere.
We are the only species that has exploited the vast carbon sinks which in normal circumstances would remain untouched. In this way, by the burning of fossil fuels, the Earth’s carbon cycle is affected through the release of carbon at a higher rate than would be the case in natural processes, and the natural mechanisms of returning the carbon to these sinks does not currently operate at a rate that would negate this release. I would suggest that this fact is indisputable. The carbon released in a few decades took millions of years to lay down. Do the doubters really believe that this will have no effect on the environment?
In this context, I would again refer to James Lovelock’s Gaia Hypothesis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesisI do however think that there is some very cynical fund-raising going on by governments on the back of the scaremongering. It’s not more taxes we need, it’s a more appropriate lifestyle.
Merda taurorum animas conturbit. Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur