Ask Dr. Bill

Your global warming questions answered

Posted: 18-Apr-2006; Updated: 09-Jan-2007

I get it that global warming is happening, but doesn't that mean it's too late to do anything about it? Is there any hope?

Some global warming is inevitable, but what we are most concerned about is the climate system passing a tipping point where melting ice leads to irreversible sea level rise. We may be as few as thirty years away from passing that threshold. However, the good news is that such a situation is preventable.

It is critical that we begin working together NOW to reduce global warming pollution.

I am confused. Is there or is there not a scientific question about global warming. I hear some scientists say it's a fact that global warming is already happening, but others say it's just a theory. Who's right?

The science on global warming was settled a long time ago. The only debate remaining today is how much time we have to stop it.

Athough a small number of skeptics continue to voice their doubts, the National Academy of Sciences, chartered by President Abraham Lincoln to advise the nation on scientific matters says "the science [on global warming] is certain enough for all nations to take action." If that's not scientific consensus, I don’t know what is.

People tell me to buy a Prius, and to fly less, and to change out my lightbulbs. Is that really going to make any difference?

Absolutely! Each and every one of us can take simple steps in our everyday lives to fight global warming.

For example, if every household in American exchanged three standard lightbulbs with three energy efficient compact florescent lightbulbs (CFL), it would be the equivalent of taking 3.5 million cars off the road.

When you are ready to buy a new car, choose one that gets five more miles to the gallon than your current car. Over time, buyers choosing more fuel efficient cars have the power to cut our nation’s global warming pollution by up to 10 percent.