Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?

There are many different views on Global Warming these days. It is a political issue, as well as a religious issue. We know that political parties disagree - the republicans (and other conservatives) do not believe in it and the democrats (and other liberals) do believe in it. Most of the time, it is thought that Christians also do not believe in Global Warming. Christians are thought to not be concerned with destroying the earth by using up all of the fuel. This however is not true. There are some Christians who are both religious and concerned with Global Warming. So is Global Warming really a threat?

There are many things that attribute to the fear of Global Warming. One scare is that with India and China growing both in economics and industrialism, Global Warming will be a very big problem. One study says that by the year 2025, India's greenhouse emissions could rise seventy percent. The same study says that China's total electricity demand will rise an estimated 2,600 gig watts by 2050. That would be like adding four 300-megawatt power plants every week for the next 45 years. ("The Impact of Asia's Giants" Global Issues: Annual Editions 07/08)

There are many scientific studies that point to Global Warming being a real threat. The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) has provided the current state of understanding of the climate and the projected future and uncertainties. One observation is that the global average surface temperature has increased about .6 degrees Celsius during the past century. Also, the Summary for Policymakers agrees that temperatures have risen during the past four decades in the lowest eight kilometers. They also have found that snow and ice extent have decreased, global average sea level has risen and ocean heat content has increased, and emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols due to human activities continue to alter the atmosphere in ways that are expected, among other observations. ("Issue Eight: Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?" Taking Sides: Clashing View on Global Issues. 4th edition)