We have enjoyed a mild winter in North Georgia. Once again some are worried about CO2 released in the atmosphere. First off, those who fear CO2 (aka greenhouse gas) have discovered global average temperature have risen only about 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1860. So they went from global warming to climate change. Historically, climate change has referred to geographical areas and not worldwide. We have experienced a wide variety of different climates in Northeast Georgia over the last 20 years. Winter in Europe was much more severe than in the U.S. this past year.

The next consideration is greenhouse gas or CO2 which comes from burning fossil fuels. Consider the element carbon, which is essential to everything that grows. Without carbon, there would be no forests, lawns, flowers, shrubs or the food we eat. Horticulturists inject CO2 into their greenhouses to enhance growth. The ideal amount of C02 for growing is between 3,000 and 4,000 parts per million. In our atmosphere, we stand somewhere between 500 and 600 parts per million.

President Donald Trump is right in freeing up coal and oil for industrial use. Yes, the average world temperature will continue to rise about one degree over the next 100 years. The world is in a warming cycle which will most likely continue for 200 years followed by a cooling trend.

Actually the jet stream, oceans currents and ocean temperature have more to do with global temperatures and climate change than anything. The sun is also a factor.

It is said storms come more frequently and are more severe. Those yelling about climate change say this is caused by CO2. Every news channel reports the weather making us more aware of it and the destruction from storms. Since World War II, houses, neighborhoods and cities have expanded tremendously. The storms, hurricanes, tornados and rain are still falling mainly in places they have occurred historically. Seventy years ago, the building of cities and such was not what it is today.

George C. Kaulbach
Cornelia

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