There are also scientists saying that the increase in Co2 is cuased by the increasing temperatures and that the true scource of any temperature increases has as yet to be identified; though my bet is on the relationship between the sun and our planets geo-thermal action. Its quite possible a spurious coorelation has been drawn between Co2 and temperature fluctuations.


Outside of that, we have reams of data collected about what the climate did in the past on this planet. Its preserved quite nicely for those wishing to go find it, especially in fosseil records and geological substrates.

Can we as humans influence the enviroment?

We allready have in a multitude of ways, just look at the vast changes in fauna (I use fauna in the definition of biologists in that it includes animals and plants) and terrain features as well as water distribution that took place in North America from our presence.

Have we directly changed the overall atmospheric composition to date as a species on a significant level?

I think science is still colating data, were as those with political agendas are using scare tactics to influence the general populace for their own advantage. (unfortunately it appears as if some scientists in general are not as ethical as they would like us to believe and quite capable of allowing their personal political views to influence their data) As we so recently found out to be true in a few cases. Funny how the politicians instead of crying foul to the scientists in question and holding them up to public scrutiny are instead crying foul on the whistler blower who uncovered their transgressions.

But as Lion mentioned, there is still no reason whatsoever that we shouldnt take our responsiblity for the planet as its dominant species very very seriously.

After all its not like we are in a position to get up just yet and row row our boat to a different island.