Fossil fuel companies risk plague lawsuits as tide turns on climate change

[mongers]

Further complicating matters is the variety of sources of environmental damage.  How do you determine how much an oil company is responsible versus a coal company, or a power company operating coal and oil plants, or an auto manufacturer, or any of the other links in the pollution chain?  Cigarettes had the benefit of being a neat, clean "they did it" situation.

You left out us, the end user.

There's a lot to be said for this position.

[Monoriu]

Yeah, I am not worried about oil companies being sued.  They probably will be, but it will be difficult to quantify responsibility. 

But there is a possibility that in the future, humans may rely less on oil.  Or even not at all.  Every time I see a Tesla on the roads, which unfortunately is increasingly often, my desire to buy oil shares has decreased a tiny little bit.  Maybe I am looking at Kodak before digital photography became widespread, I don't know. 

[Jacob]

Actually there is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man made. Indeed, there has been absolutely no measured increase in global temperatures since 1999. Scientists have been unable to even show a statistical correlation between atmospheric co2 and global temperatures.

If there is no evidence that global warming is real, what do reckon is the cause of the rapidly shrinking Polar ice caps?

You say there's been no change since 1999. Here's the National Geographics maps, reflecting a rather drastic shrinking in the extent of the ice cap since then: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150803-arctic-ice-obama-climate-nation-science/

[Monoriu]

I think the evidence that shows the reality of rising global temperatures and that human activities are behind the change are now overwhelming.  The threshold of beyond reasonable doubt was reached a long time ago. 

[Richard Hakluyt]

Indeed, it is a reality within which we are already working.

[The Minsky Moment]

Actually there is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man made. Indeed, there has been absolutely no measured increase in global temperatures since 1999. Scientists have been unable to even show a statistical correlation between atmospheric co2 and global temperatures.

If there is no evidence that global warming is real, what do reckon is the cause of the rapidly shrinking Polar ice caps?

You say there's been no change since 1999. Here's the National Geographics maps, reflecting a rather drastic shrinking in the extent of the ice cap since then: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150803-arctic-ice-obama-climate-nation-science/

Hans generates a lot of hot air.
Enough to melt polar ice caps?  Who can really say?  Science is uncertain.
But there is a clear correlation between the level of his internet trolling activity and melting polar ice.  Just saying.

[Valmy]

Actually there is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man made. Indeed, there has been absolutely no measured increase in global temperatures since 1999. Scientists have been unable to even show a statistical correlation between atmospheric co2 and global temperatures.

If there is no evidence that global warming is real, what do reckon is the cause of the rapidly shrinking Polar ice caps?

You say there's been no change since 1999. Here's the National Geographics maps, reflecting a rather drastic shrinking in the extent of the ice cap since then: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150803-arctic-ice-obama-climate-nation-science/

Berkut tried to use this against him a few years ago. Obviously it did not take.

[The Brain]

Actually there is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man made. Indeed, there has been absolutely no measured increase in global temperatures since 1999. Scientists have been unable to even show a statistical correlation between atmospheric co2 and global temperatures.

If there is no evidence that global warming is real, what do reckon is the cause of the rapidly shrinking Polar ice caps?

You say there's been no change since 1999. Here's the National Geographics maps, reflecting a rather drastic shrinking in the extent of the ice cap since then: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150803-arctic-ice-obama-climate-nation-science/

It may not be inconceivable to a skeptic that the cause could be polar warming. I don't think the silver bullet argument is regional.

[Hamilcar]

Actually there is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man made. Indeed, there has been absolutely no measured increase in global temperatures since 1999. Scientists have been unable to even show a statistical correlation between atmospheric co2 and global temperatures.

blah blah blah blah I am an ignorant moron blah blah *Jaron*

[Eddie Teach]

blah blah blah blah I am an ignorant moron blah blah *Jaron*

Jaron has actually experienced global cooling over the past decade.

[alfred russel]

If there is no evidence that global warming is real, what do reckon is the cause of the rapidly shrinking Polar ice caps?

You say there's been no change since 1999. Here's the National Geographics maps, reflecting a rather drastic shrinking in the extent of the ice cap since then: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150803-arctic-ice-obama-climate-nation-science/

I've seen reports that there has been global warming post 1999, so I'm not taking Hans' side on this. I also think it is unarguable that there has been global warming--and I've seen in a bunch of places that glaciers have massively retreated from where they were in the recent past.

However, just so everyone isn't dogpiling Hans, it is conceivable that if temperatures didn't warm since 1999 we could still see the polar ice caps continue to melt. If in 1999 temperatures reached a point that ice caps would go through a net retreat, it is possible there hasn't been warming since then and the retreat has simply continued over the past 16 years. It is also possible for the process to accelerate during that time with constant temperature because as the ice caps shrink the ratio of their surface area to total mass increases.

[The Minsky Moment]

"There is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man-made."

Zero evidence.  Not reason to question.  Not some uncertainty.  Zero evidence. That is Hans' claim. 

That's nonsense on stilts.

[grumbler]

"There is zero evidence that global warming is either real or man-made."

Zero evidence.  Not reason to question.  Not some uncertainty.  Zero evidence. That is Hans' claim. 

That's nonsense on stilts.

There's zero evidence that god won't fix global warming without mankind being required to make any sacrifices at all.

HansInhofeMeister

[Hamilcar]

HansInfoWarsMeister

FTFY

[Barrister]

If there is no evidence that global warming is real, what do reckon is the cause of the rapidly shrinking Polar ice caps?

You say there's been no change since 1999. Here's the National Geographics maps, reflecting a rather drastic shrinking in the extent of the ice cap since then: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150803-arctic-ice-obama-climate-nation-science/

I've seen reports that there has been global warming post 1999, so I'm not taking Hans' side on this. I also think it is unarguable that there has been global warming--and I've seen in a bunch of places that glaciers have massively retreated from where they were in the recent past.

However, just so everyone isn't dogpiling Hans, it is conceivable that if temperatures didn't warm since 1999 we could still see the polar ice caps continue to melt. If in 1999 temperatures reached a point that ice caps would go through a net retreat, it is possible there hasn't been warming since then and the retreat has simply continued over the past 16 years. It is also possible for the process to accelerate during that time with constant temperature because as the ice caps shrink the ratio of their surface area to total mass increases.

Glaciers and ice caps have been retreating for a very long time as well, so it is a phenomenon that is not only caused by humans.