Spelthorne Borough Council

Providing Quality Services to the People of
Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell & Sunbury

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Couldn’t this global warming just be part of the temperature cycle that the earth goes through? I can’t do anything, I am just one person, what difference will I make? Why can’t we be more precise about the speed of climate change and the effects it will have? Not all scientists believe we have caused climate change, why should I worry if they can’t agree? Couldn’t this global warming just be part of the temperature cycle that the earth goes through? The Earth goes through warming and cooling cycles over hundreds of thousands of years. It is thought at the moment that we are in a warming phase. By examining samples of ice formed over hundreds of centuries scientists believe that the rate of current warming being experienced and the rate which is projected will exceed historical warming events. I can’t do anything, I am just one person, what difference will I make? There are many things that you can do limit the impact of your lifestyle on the planet. All of these will have an effect and although they will be small, the more people that undertake them the greater the overall affect will be. By taking these initial actions you may also find that you become more aware and considerate of your environment, you might even inspire others to take similar steps in their lives. Why can’t we be more precise about the speed of climate change and the effects it will have? The scientific research regarding climate change is groundbreaking and very complicated. Take as an example predicting the weather. Even the most sophisticated weather modelling systems used for short-term forecasts have difficulty in accurately predicting the specifics. They are able to predict trends and general changes much more precisely. So we know that the climate will change and what broad effects these will have, the timing and the full implications however are much more difficult to pin down. Not all scientists believe we have caused climate change, why should I worry if they can’t agree? The science of a whole planet is incredibly complex even before taking into account our effects upon it, so getting everyone to agree would be almost impossible. It is a very good thing that there are differing opinions amongst the experts as it allows research and ideas to develop and move forward. If we sat around waiting for everyone to agree before taking positive steps, we would not have to worry about climate change, as we would probably be extinct!
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