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What does it mean to say global warming is ‘natural’?

It has recently come to my attention that there's some difference of opinion on exactly what climate skeptics mean when they say that global warming is "part of a natural cycle," or more simply, "natural," as opposed to anthropogenic.

My assumption has always been as follows: The amount of CO2 produced by human activity is trivial as a climate forcing. It's not causing the rise in global average temperature. The rise in global average temperature is simply part of a swinging between hot and cold that happens over centuries, and will happen no matter what we do. (Alternatively, recent warming is caused by an increase in solar radiation.)

The main practical outcome of the view that global warming is "natural" is that we can't do anything about it (except adapt). I think that's the whole point. But apparently not everyone agrees.

Does that jibe with what y'all think? Or are there other interpretations?

Evolution and global warming: satan’s satanic satanism

Via Tim Lambert, Panda's Thumb brings word of creationists joining the fight against, um, reality (in the form of global warming):

Bush’s new line on global warming

As global warming becomes a more and more salient political issue (thanks, Al!), Bush gets asked about it more often, and is forced to defend his (lack of) policy. Predictably, he's saying some pretty stupid things.

Consider this, from an interview with People:

Do you think Gore is right on global warming?
I think we have a problem on global warming. I think there is a debate about whether it's caused by mankind or whether it's caused naturally, but it's a worthy debate. It's a debate, actually, that I'm in the process of solving by advancing new technologies, burning coal cleanly in electric plants, or promoting hydrogen-powered automobiles, or advancing ethanol as an alternative to gasoline.

First, no, there's not a debate. And if there were ... how does one "solve" a debate? And if it were epistemologically possible to "solve" a debate, how would you do it with a series of subsidies to industry?

Anyhoo. Here he is on Larry King Live last night:

Atlantic @ Aspen

Via Ezra, I stumbled on the Atlantic @ Aspen blog, a chronicle of Atlantic staffers' attendance at this year's Aspen Ideas Festival, "a 'summer university' featuring discussions, seminars, and tutorials with some the most provocative thinkers, writers, artists, businesspeople, and leaders from around the world."

Three posts jumped out.

Sigh

Can you guess who said this?

Watch out for those rising seas

Read recently that scientists now think dodos (you remember them) went extinct not at the hands of humans, but because of a natural disaster. Specifically, because of cyclones or rising sea levels.

Those dodos just sat there as sea levels rose? Didn't do anything? Went extinct? Ridiculous.

Bulldozers in South Central

If you're up for it, go here to see some stomach-churning video of bulldozers taking down the South Central Community Farm, and L.A. police manhandling underage protestors.

C’est Fin

Sushi popularity means bad news for tuna, WWF warns The popularity of sushi is sending tuna stocks into a downward spiral, says the World Wildlife Fund, warning that Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna will go extinct if commercial fishers continue hooking them at current rates. “The fishery is running out of control,” WWF says […]

Place Invaders

A warming Antarctica is threatened by invasive species As more tourists and researchers head to Antarctica — gotta see that ice before it’s gone! — scientists are worrying about a different sort of invasion: flora and fauna. “The more individuals of an alien species or nonnative species get there, the more likely something will be […]

Candid Cameron

Tories and Labor swap positions on nuclear power in U.K. In an interesting switcheroo, the U.K.’s Conservative Party, pro-nuclear in the past, and Prime Minister Tony Blair, skeptical of nuclear in the past, have flip-flopped. Blair this week all but promised to build new nuclear power plants to replace old ones set to go out […]