GameSeven wrote:I don't keep a dossier on all members of the GW movement like many seem to have for the skeptics. But if you want to believe that only the energy companies and other skeptics have a horse in this race, then go right ahead.
There are certainly people who will benefit economically. But does that discredit the science?
Look, every situation attracts people seeking to exploit it for financial and other gain. It's inevitable.
That's why it's important to look at the data. Most people who are educuated in this field believe that humans are having an effect on global temperatures. Like I said before, that doesn't make them right.
The trick is that this is a hedge bet for a number of reasons. We don't have a huge amount of data -- this isn't like evolution where there's a century and a half of evidence proving the theory. It's also a very complex issue in terms of the variables that could be affecting warming, and it could be very expensive, because our energy and industrial infrastructures were designed to be as cheap as possible, not environmentally friendly.
However, there's the case of what happens with no or minimal action. If the changes do happen, and we have even modest rises in sea level or changes in climate (especially those that produce more extreme conditions, such as prolonged droughts), there are serious reprecussions for human civilzation. Because the environment is complex and obviously difficult to influence, it requires action sooner rather than later if we want to avoid the more serious effects. There are also the side benefits of having less pollution, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and so on.
I see this as similar to the ozone layer. There was strong evidence that CFCs were affecting the ozone. Western countries changed their CFC policies, and in a relatively short period of time, that hole appears to have shrunk and is not really a problem any more. I think there is enough evidence to suggest that humans can have a significant impact on the environment, both pro and con, if there are large-scale processes creating or reducing pollution.
It COULDN'T POSSIBLY be something as natural as, say, the sun, now, could it? Nope...we HAVE to, MUST blame it all on the SUVs, oil companies, industry, coal, campfires, animal farts, styrofoam cups, hairspray, A/C units, and all the evil bastards that use them. Yep...that's MUCH more believable... 
