A greenhouse gas is one that tends to trap heat in the atmosphere rather than re-radiating it into space. Some familiar examples are methane (or natural gas) produced by decay of dead organic matter and within the bowels of most animals, including man, and carbon dioxide, which is produced by combustion and water vapor. Of these, human beings emit all three, as do all other animals on Earth.

President Bush is criticized now because he is unwilling to have carbon dioxide designated as a pollutant to be regulated by the EPA under the Clean Air Act. Thank goodness for us that he is!

We don't really know that rising CO2 levels are responsible for global warming, only that they are occurring at the same time. We don't really know what the result of global warming will be. I have read predictions from greening the planet and moderating severe weather to worldwide devastation.

Before we cripple our economy by adding further costs to energy production, maybe we should really find out whether global warming is something to be feared or embraced. Otherwise, we may all be wearing pollution-control devices over our faces and elsewhere.

Allen S. Thorpe

View Comments

Castle Dale

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.