14 Sep
2000
14 Sep
'00
4:30 p.m.
Eric J. Korpela wrote:
We might not know exactly what the effects of pumping
vast amounts of CO2
into the atmosphere will be, but we know there will be effects. Isn't that
a good enough reason to exercise caution?
No. It's unlikely that we simply stop producing CO2. More likely we
replace processes that produce CO2 with processes that produce other
waste products. The environmental impact of those other waste products
is even *less* understood.
I think you also underestimate the quality of the data
regrading the effects
of stratospheric chlorine compounds on the ozone layer. No one claims
that it is the only thing affecting ozone concentrations, but very few
would deny that it is having an effect.
Some of them do deny that it's having an effect. The actual measurements
do not back up the claim that decreased use of CFCs will reduce the ozone
hole.
The point isn't that the hypothesis is wrong, but that it's not sufficiently
tested, and that there is in fact counterevidence. So it's foolish to
rush out and change from using CFCs with well-known properties to other
chemicals with less known effects.
You are as guilty of letting your pollitics influence
your view of reality as they are.
As are you.