Water,water

[Braveheart]

For me it comes down to which humans. Forcing new tractor and truck engines on North American ag producers whilst China and India pours pollutants into the atmosphere just increases our costs and will do nothing in the end to reduce carbon. What's more, carbon has been banked for a couple of decades now with no till on the prairies, yet no recognition of that is ever mentioned.

Back to my original comment. One volcano, like the Iceland event, would pour so much carbon into the atmosphere, NOTHING we could do in generations would come close to equalling it. So to lay the blame at the feet solely at industrialized society is misplaced.

[Tucker]

I really like a quote I heard years ago during one of Tim Ball's talks: "I don't know which is more arrogant, mankind thinking they caused the problem or mankind thinking they can change it"

[dmlfarmer]

Braveheart:
Where did you get your information that one volcano impacts climate more than humans do What Scientific studies support your claim? Studies I have read found: "Volcanoes emit around 0.3 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. This is about 1% of human CO2 emissions which is around 29 billion tonnes per year."

[Braveheart]

Google a writer named Ian Pilmer. I think he is a contributor to ABC News.

[foragefarmer]

Tucker Tim Ball is nothing more than a big grand stander funded by EXXON and other oil companies. Not hard to see who's side he's on.


Black powder : I don't mind doing my part or paying for it,as I feel we all have a responsiblty to do so. I try my very best to ensure I take care of my farm in the most husbandry manner so there is something left for the future. This business of pointing fingers at everybody else is getting very tiresome. I am not rich nor a hypoctite and I am not as blind as other posters on here that simply deny nothing needs to change and blaming everybody else.So don't label me for pointing out the facts

[dmlfarmer]

Blaveheart: Ian Plimer has made the volcano claim a number of times but has never provided any scientific data to back up his claim. Even when questioned in debate on this claim he will not provide any data to support his volcano claim.
It has been debunked by many scientists and scientific organizations including the United States Geological Survey, NASA, the University in Adelaide.
Just because Plimer wrote this statement does not make it true.

[grassfarmer]

I think there are two issues here - energy use and emissions. North America comes out as the energy hog of the world and you just can't deny the figures on that.

Per capita energy consumption in some major countries expressed as tonnes of oil equivalent.
Canada 7.6T
USA 7.3T
Germany 4T
Japan 3.7T
China 1.8T
India 0.6T

Per capita carbon dioxide emissions also in tonnes.
Canada 15.3T
US 17.2T
Germany 9.6T
Japan 9.5T
China 7.2T
India 1.7T

Should note that topping the emission stakes generally are the oil rich gulf states - Qatar at a staggering 44T. US and Canada are 12th and 14 respectively.

[stonepicker]

Mount. pinatubo eruption. Weather change doesn't get any quicker than that.

[farmaholic]

I stand by my statement regarding "seasonal" Ag equipment. But I find it hard to believe that what took untold years to store, energy in the form of coal, petroleum, wood, natural gas, and at the rate it is being released(burned) today that "we" aren't having some effect. Whether or not we are or aren't having the effect we think we are is what is up for debate.

[stonepicker]

David suzuki also gets funding from oil companies, obviously that makes his work false and irrelevant too.

[bluefargo]

I have heard Tim Ball on a few occasions although not recently. I always felt better when I left. His "Don't worry be happy" message used to work for me. It's just sunspots. Don't worry. However in the intervening years the evidence of human effect has simply become too overwhelming.
I don't know if Tim Ball is still on the speaking circuit or not.

[dmlfarmer]

stonepicker. I totally agree that Mt Pinatubo caused climate change. However Pinatubo only released about 0.05Gt of CO2. Man releases roughly 36Gt of CO2 every year according to USGS or about 700 times what Pinatubo released. If you are so sure Pinatubo causes climate change, how can man not be having an effect? http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/gas/climate.php