Global warming - is it our fault?

Find out more about global warming

Your thoughts

Here's what some message board users had to say about the issue:

• "The price of ignoring global warming is huge. The price of thinking it exists when if it doesn't is that we develop sustainable resources: we are running out of fossil fuels whether global warming exists or not."
• "The popularity of an appeal doesn't make the argument valid."
• "If those theories are correct, is that an excuse to use up all the world's oil reserves, or to carry on polluting the world?"
• "Global warming does exist, but we're not the cause."

The Kyoto Protocol

According to the United Nations Environment Programme,

"The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to the year 1990 (but note that, compared to the emissions levels that would be expected by 2010 without the Protocol, this limitation represents a 29% cut).

"The goal is to lower overall emissions of six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons - averaged over the period of 2008-2012. National limitations range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia, and permitted increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland."

You can find the full agreement on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website.

The Oregon Petition

Here's the full text of the petition:

"We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto, Japan in December, 1997, and any other similar proposals. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind.

"There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth."

Read more about the Oregon Petition at the Global Warming Petition Project website.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.