As far as we (don't) know

How far do we know about climate change ? 

"The average surface temperature of earth has increased more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and the rate of warming has been nearly three times the century-long average since 1970". 

This might be the only truth universally acknowledged about Global warming. But as for the rest, it is all out of focus.

Some scientists predict blood-and-thunder scenarios for the future, But the matter is they look hundreds years ahead. Is the science the right tool to predict the avenir in such a long-range ? I am glad it is not.  If we rely on these kinds of predictions, the planet would be drained because of farmers moving from a region to another, as a now-discredited theory of climatology tried to proove years ago.

But let's get back to the subject in hand. If I decide to buy a Toyota tomorrow, will a baby bear die in 1.000 years because of me ? And will pandas hold it against me for the next 500 years ? Hopefully, science doesn't have the answer.

"To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth’s climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn’t change. First of all, I don’t think it’s within the power of human beings to assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown. And second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that’s a rather arrogant position for people to take."  Michael Griffin, NASA administrator