# Why no one cares about global warming. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 23, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337 "2015-04-23T04:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/181 "2015-04-28T22:00:55Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I’m rubber and you’re glue? Seriously? That’s the best you’ve got? It’s OK. **Ají de Gallina** seems to know nothing about climate science, and seems oblivious to the influence of the energy industry lobby on public opinion, but he’s declared himself the winner and undisputed champion of every debate he’s ever been involved in, so it’s all good. 😉 > [@Magiver](#): > > I’m quite serious when I say you don’t know your ass from a hole in the ground about statistics or sales trends. 1st quarter car sales in general are trending up except for electrics which are trending down. I’m sure that **GIGO** can speak for himself, but I just wanted to ask whether you thought that [this](http://static.cdn-seekingalpha.com/uploads/2015/1/12/saupload_df39415aa3be318373c79c58512bacad.png) might have any impact at all on electric car sales? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/182 "2015-04-28T22:08:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m quite serious when I say you don’t know your ass from a hole in the ground about statistics or sales trends. 1st quarter car sales in general are trending up except for electrics which are trending down. Tell you what, since it was your source, using your citation post the year the sales were down, from 2011 to 2014, not much can be say for the current year until it is over, unless you want to use past 3 months, as pointed before you did talk about \*\*all \*\*the plug-ins, and your pitiful way out was to move the goal post to the Volts. Again, as per your cite, sales for all electricals are up when one compares it what happened in the first 3 months of 2014. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/183 "2015-04-29T15:45:48Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Is that really such a puzzling question? Heck, there are people who fully believe their own doctors who tell them that very bad things will happen to their health if they don’t change their eating/exercise/drug use/whatever, but nonetheless end up doing very little to change the habits that are hurting them. > > I don’t think you really need much of an explanation beyond “human nature” to answer the question of why people frequently do things that they know are bad for them. > > Climate change is also largely an “externalized costs” situation, where most of the people in the developed world who are making the largest impact on climate are not likely to be the first or worst sufferers from the eventual effects of climate change. And even in the developed world, no one individual is making a significant enough impact on the climate that their individual mitigation measures would really make a detectable difference. > > A similar situation arose with the chloroflurocarbons that were found to deplete the ozone layer in the atmosphere back in the 1970’s. Some individual consumers stopped buying aerosol sprays with ozone-depleting CFCs, and some companies voluntarily stopped manufacturing them, but there were still lots of CFCs around. It took concerted large-scale high-level policy agreements, such as the Montreal Protocol, to make a globally significant difference in mitigating ozone depletion. Exaclt, and that’s what the OP is about. We say we care a lot about the environment, but most people, don’t do nearly enough. > [@Trinopus](#): > > How many corporations do I own? How many diesel tractors? Hey, kid, I’ve done my part and more: I don’t own any big diesel tractors. I also turned off my backyard coal-burning electric generator, and I sold my fleet of passenger jet aircraft. > > This is the same old “Al Gore lives in a big house” crap. It’s an ad hominem fallacy. The science must be wrong because those who believe in it live a particular lifestyle. You couldn’t have made my point better if I’d blackmailed you. Thanks a mill. > [@Trinopus](#): > > I’m rubber and you’re glue? Seriously? That’s the best you’ve got? He doesn’t give me much more to work with, with all the avoiding dificult stuff. > [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s OK. **Ají de Gallina** seems to know nothing about climate science, and seems oblivious to the influence of the energy industry lobby on public opinion, but he’s declared himself the winner and undisputed champion of every debate he’s ever been involved in, so it’s all good. 😉 Thanks. Keep avoiding the issues on the thread, you’re doin’ a fine job. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/184 "2015-04-29T16:35:09Z")
And this seems to be a job that **Aji de Galina** is doing with gusto. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/185 "2015-04-29T18:44:57Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Exaclt, and that’s what the OP is about. We say we care a lot about the environment, but most people, don’t do nearly enough. > > You couldn’t have made my point better if I’d blackmailed you. Thanks a mill. > > He doesn’t give me much more to work with, with all the avoiding dificult stuff. > > Thanks. Keep avoiding the issues on the thread, you’re doin’ a fine job. It’s really surprising that you’re this unable to think through the flaws in your objection. I assume it must ideology distracting you, since it’s not complex or difficult to understand. People alone can’t modify climate change. It takes systemic action. If you think Al Gore taking a flight on a jet aircraft is proof that climate change isn’t real, you’re just unable to assess the issue with any level of objectivity. He’s not advocating getting rid of jets. He’s advocating systemic change that will bring down our overall carbon production. Your position is nonsense. And holding it up as a win is baffling. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/186 "2015-04-29T19:58:42Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > He’s not advocating getting rid of jets. He’s advocating systemic change that will bring down our overall carbon production. No he is not. Nothing he says or even does will reduce carbon fuel use. It’s just the appearance of doing something. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/187 "2015-04-29T20:18:50Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > No he is not. Nothing he says or even does will reduce carbon fuel use. It’s just the appearance of doing something. Well, since you’ve established that you imagine yourself as superior to actual experts in this field (without actually going though the trouble of being an expert), I don’t see the utility of arguing issues with you, since you choose to ignore the actual experts at your whim. That said, your response it unfocused. Are you saying that nothing Gore can do personally would lower the amount of carbon we, as a race emit, or nothing humanity could do? Because the former is obvious. The latter is gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/188 "2015-04-29T20:24:40Z")
No President/leader/person can reduce fossil fuel use, not by passing laws, imposing fines, sanctions or even sending the military in to force the issue. It’s not possible. Even if reduction of the US consumption was achieved, **which certainly is possible** , it happened already twice, it won’t reduce the global amounts at all. In fact, if the US stopped all carbon fuel use, it wouldn’t stop the CO2 levels from rising. So nothing a President says will reduce fossil fuel use. Globally, or even locally. The solution has to be economic and technical, both of which are resisted like crazy. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/189 "2015-04-29T20:25:49Z")
Of course the “” Solutions to stopping global warming" thread is all abuzz with that discussion. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/190 "2015-04-29T20:34:34Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > No President/leader/person can reduce fossil fuel use, not by passing laws, imposing fines, sanctions or even sending the military in to force the issue. It’s not possible. > > Even if reduction of the US consumption was achieved, **which certainly is possible** , it happened already twice, it won’t reduce the global amounts at all. In fact, if the US stopped all carbon fuel use, it wouldn’t stop the CO2 levels from rising. > > So nothing a President says will reduce fossil fuel use. Globally, or even locally. The solution has to be economic and technical, both of which are resisted like crazy. Of course the solution is economical and technical. Both of which can be manipulated by humans. This is awesome, you make a broad proclamation, and then in the next sentence admit you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/191 "2015-04-29T20:35:08Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > No he is not. Nothing he says or even does will reduce carbon fuel use. It’s just the appearance of doing something. Oh well, to me the mention of Gore is like a Godwin, it really shows that the opposition has no good ideas to counter the arguments and evidence. It is also once again showing how contradictory contrarians are, at the same time they declare that Gore is making a killing in Green Energy, they claim that he is doing nothing. In the past there were many in the metal pipe industry that benefited when cities got clean water and sewage, the big contradiction here is to deny that doing the right thing can have people that benefit too and in a world that is not against free enterprise this is welcomed news It really seems that many contrarians really think that environmentalists that propose the needed changes are against industry or that the people in the left that follow this are just socialists or worse. Or when Gore is mentioned that he is doing nothing and the same time doing a lot for his benefit. No good ideas or arguments indeed. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/192 "2015-04-29T20:44:17Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > No President/leader/person can reduce fossil fuel use, not by passing laws, imposing fines, sanctions or even sending the military in to force the issue. It’s not possible. > > Even if reduction of the US consumption was achieved, **which certainly is possible** , it happened already twice, it won’t reduce the global amounts at all. In fact, if the US stopped all carbon fuel use, it wouldn’t stop the CO2 levels from rising. > > So nothing a President says will reduce fossil fuel use. Globally, or even locally. The solution has to be economic and technical, both of which are resisted like crazy. Again, this is because of misinformation and politics that feeds from it. Even so in reality most people do want government to do the right thing. [http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/article/politics-and-global-warming-spring-2014/#sthash.avvv2HSi.dpuf](http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/article/politics-and-global-warming-spring-2014/#sthash.avvv2HSi.dpuf) > [@](#): > > For example, among registered voters: > > • 88% of Democrats, 59% of Independents and 61% of liberal/moderate Republicans think global warming is happening, compared to only 28% of conservative Republicans; > > • 81% of Democrats and 51% of liberal/moderate Republicans are worried about global warming, compared to only 19% of conservative Republicans; > > • 82% of Democrats and 65% of liberal/moderate Republicans support strict carbon dioxide emission limits on existing coal-fired power plants to reduce global warming and improve public health, compared to only 31% of conservative Republicans. > > The report includes an executive summary and many more interesting findings about how Democrats, Republicans and Independents think about global warming, what policies they support or oppose, and the different types of political activism they are willing to engage in. Eventually the crazies (that are almost all exclusively Republicans) are the ones that will be removed from office. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/193 "2015-04-29T20:47:17Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > A similar situation arose with the chloroflurocarbons that were found to deplete the ozone layer in the atmosphere back in the 1970’s. Some individual consumers stopped buying aerosol sprays with ozone-depleting CFCs, and some companies voluntarily stopped manufacturing them, but there were still lots of CFCs around. It took concerted large-scale high-level policy agreements, such as the Montreal Protocol, to make a globally significant difference in mitigating ozone depletion. Yes, and developing countries have until 2030 to stop using Freon. Most countries agreed to stop by 2020. International agreement happened in 2007. CFCs were reduce starting in 1989, but are still used of course. HFCs still haven’t replaced CFCs, more CFCs were released in 2010 than HFCs. (both are supposed to be captured, not released at all anymore) > [@](#): > > Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have been used in recent years in increasing quantities as substitutes for CFCs, are also climatically very active and many are also extremely long-lived. In the journal Science an international team of researchers recommends that the most potent of these gases also be regulated. > **[CFC substitutes: Good for the ozone layer, bad for climate?](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120224110737.htm)** > > The Montreal Protocol led to a global phase-out of most substances that deplete the ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A happy side-effect of the gradual ban of these products is that the Earth’s climate has also benefited because CFCs... It’s an illusion that somehow the CFCs and HFCs problem was solved. Is solved. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/194 "2015-04-29T20:51:14Z")
All those who posted claiming that the fix will be quick and easy are therefore rebuked, and rightly so. In compensation, I will give a dollar to each of them. I have two, should be more than enough. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/195 "2015-04-29T20:51:16Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > It’s really surprising that you’re this unable to think through the flaws in your objection. I assume it must ideology distracting you, since it’s not complex or difficult to understand. > > People alone can’t modify climate change. It takes systemic action. If you think Al Gore taking a flight on a jet aircraft is proof that climate change isn’t real, you’re just unable to assess the issue with any level of objectivity. He’s not advocating getting rid of jets. He’s advocating systemic change that will bring down our overall carbon production. > > Your position is nonsense. And holding it up as a win is baffling. Since you don’t understand my position it is complete logical that you find it nonsense. Of course ONE SINGLE PERSON cannot fight AGW, no matter what they do. However, if you tell me that AGW is the most important problem of humanity and you tell me that we all need to our part because if all of us get together we can do a lot to help AND THEN you buy 4 Hummers to take your kids to the park two blocks away it detracts from your moral position. It doesn’t of course, negate the scientific and/or aconomic merits of your position. It’s like those “family values” politicians that get caught with prostitutes. In itself it doesn’t affect family values or whether they matter or not, but you need a new face. I haven’t mentioned Al Gore, but anyone who thinks “Al Gore taking a flight on a jet aircraft is proof that climate change isn’t real” is ignorant and stupid. The (in)validity of AGW does not in any way depend on the personal/mora/economic/polluting actions of anyone in the discussion (BTW if the owner of [www.superclimatedenier-CO2rules.com](http://www.superclimatedenier-CO2rules.com) buys solar panesl it doesn’t change the (in)validity of any point he makes) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/196 "2015-04-29T21:10:56Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Since you don’t understand my position it is complete logical that you find it nonsense. > > Of course ONE SINGLE PERSON cannot fight AGW, no matter what they do. > However, if you tell me that AGW is the most important problem of humanity and you tell me that we all need to our part because if all of us get together we can do a lot to help AND THEN you buy 4 Hummers to take your kids to the park two blocks away it detracts from your moral position. It doesn’t of course, negate the scientific and/or aconomic merits of your position. It’s like those “family values” politicians that get caught with prostitutes. In itself it doesn’t affect family values or whether they matter or not, but you need a new face. And there are many new faces, but Al Gore is fat, so it always appears in many contrarian arguments. (Of course not even he bought 4 Hummers, he is investing in clean energy start-ups.) > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I haven’t mentioned Al Gore, but anyone who thinks “Al Gore taking a flight on a jet aircraft is proof that climate change isn’t real” is ignorant and stupid. The (in)validity of AGW does not in any way depend on the personal/mora/economic/polluting actions of anyone in the discussion (BTW if the owner of [www.superclimatedenier-CO2rules.com](http://www.superclimatedenier-CO2rules.com) buys solar panesl it doesn’t change the (in)validity of any point he makes) Of course not, but what is missed is that even tea partiers think that the right wingers that oppose to them are bananas. [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-12/tea-party-s-green-faction-fights-for-solar-in-red-states](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-12/tea-party-s-green-faction-fights-for-solar-in-red-states) > [@](#): > > Here’s a riddle to vex the Washington political class: When do Tea Party Republicans stand together with Sierra Club environmentalists? > > The answer is on their support for solar energy against the monopoly power of traditional utilities in some of the most conservative U.S. states. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/197 "2015-04-29T22:48:29Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’m sure that **GIGO** can speak for himself, but I just wanted to ask whether you thought that [this](http://static.cdn-seekingalpha.com/uploads/2015/1/12/saupload_df39415aa3be318373c79c58512bacad.png) might have any impact at all on electric car sales? I’ll remind you of the title of the thread. Of course the falling price of oil is affecting the purchase of electric cars. Nobody cares. New Mustangs start to look pretty good to people when they see politicians taking 2 humongous airplanes to the same destination. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/198 "2015-04-29T23:26:19Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ll remind you of the title of the thread. > > Of course the falling price of oil is affecting the purchase of electric cars. Nobody cares. New Mustangs start to look pretty good to people when they see politicians taking 2 humongous airplanes to the same destination. As it was pointed many times before they are a niche market, and in a thread where several contrarians are demanding that elitist environmentalists do the right thing it remains a wrong argument to claim that “nobody cares”. Seems several are putting the money were their mouth is. And when the price of gas was the lowest your cite reports that in 2014 more EVs were sold than in 2013. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/199 "2015-04-30T05:23:56Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > … when they see politicians taking 2 humongous airplanes to the same destination. Gotta admit, taking a private jet somewhere is self-indulgent and difficult to justify, but taking _another_ private jet for a spare, that’s just plain gross. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337/200 "2015-04-30T14:31:19Z")
It’s not just that most wealthy people create way more carbon than everyone else, live in large houses, fly all over, live wonderful lives based on carbon fuels, while telling us it’s wrong, that it’s killing the earth. it’s so much more than that. It’s that they don’t actually act like there is a problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-one-cares-about-global-warming/718337.md?page=11)