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The May/June Edition of Australian S&T discussed the relationship between Solar activity and global temperatures. At solar maximum, when there are lots of sunspots, the sun emits more raiation due to the bright areas surrounding the spots. Research indicates that the cycle causes flucyuations in global temperatures of between 0.1 and 0.2 degrees. So the extended solar minimum we have been seeing is probably mitigating temperature increases.
As to human induced climate change, when I was at school, the idea of the greenhouse effect was simply commonly accepted science. The atmosphere traps heat and acts to stabilise temperatures on the earth. It has only become controversial once the possibility that we humans could affect it become known.
Climate is delicate, we know this because the climate has changed many times in the past, and we are not really sure why. I think conducting a huge uncontrolled experiment on our atmosphere (remember we have only one!) is dangerous. Over the years we havew managed to reduce the amount of pollutants that we pump out into the environment without our lifestyle or growth being affected, CO2 is simply another output that should be controlled or reduced.
Personally I would love it if we could cut our reliance on fossil fuels, regardless of the effects on climate.
Lastly, from my reading, it seems the majority of climate scientists agree that there is risk involved in pumping out more CO2. If money is their motivation, surely the one scientist who can disprove the warming effects of human activity could make a poultice from the oil, coal etc companies?
Anyway thats my 2 cents worth!
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