Since astronomers agree that for the last 20 years the sun has been in a low output cycle, and that the Earth has not entered any of the orbital cycles that can result in natural global warming episodes as seen in the past, human-induced global warming AS A PLANETARY average (vs. "Jeepers, it was extra cold in Iowa this winter you enviro-weinies!") seems to me a very reasonable conclusion.
For almost two centuries humans have put back into the air vast amounts of carbon that was sequestered during the Carboniferous Era as coal, plus burned incredible amounts of oil (abiotic vs. biotic origin being academic) while due to agriculture (farming, cattle) have released massive amounts of methane, which is many times more potent a greenhouse gas than CO2. And now that permafrosts in Siberia and Alaska are thawing, they are releasing methane at a staggering rate....a classic feed back loop.
NASA just released data showing the oceans are warmer than ever since records began. Plant and animal species are spreading away from the equator and moving up elevations in mountainous areas. Loss of glacial and sea ice is increasing big time, and the pH of the oceans, as predicted, is dropping, as they absorb CO2 where dissolved in water it forms carbonic acid....which is now dissolving corals and the shells of mulloscs.
I think that we, as an invasive species very adept at soiling its own (and only) nest, are almost certainly responsible. So extended range electric cars like the Volt that ultimately would be powered by sustainable sources (solar, bio-electric, thorium reactors, bio-diesel, biobutanol, bioethanol, wind, and others) seem to me to be a very reasonable and positive step towards planetary healing.
Check out the Chevy Volt and "Voltec" powertrain links below.
John
http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Voltec_powertrain
"The only normal people are the ones you don't know well". unknown
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