Instigator / Pro
33
1566
rating
29
debates
56.9%
won
Topic
#1623

We should avert, rather than adapt to global warming

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
15
0
Better sources
10
4
Better legibility
5
2
Better conduct
3
2

After 5 votes and with 25 points ahead, the winner is...

DynamicSquid
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
5,000
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
8
1551
rating
26
debates
57.69%
won
Description

Definitions:

Global Warming - the Earth's increase of temperature caused by human means
Avert - reduce our emissions enough so that Earth's temperature influx is within natural boundaries
Adapt - adjust our lifestyle accordingly to the ever changing climate

Model:

We can either adapt to global warming, or avert global warming, one or the other. Oh, and please just focus on Earth, arguments about space colonization (colonizing Mars for example) and similar are discounted.

If we avert climate change, we will reduce our emissions enough so that Earth returns back to it's natural temperature influx. This may take a couple of years, or even a few decades, but in the end, we must assure that the solution is more or less permanent.

If we adjust to climate change, we will have to develop new or existing technologies to keep up with the ever worsening climate (for example flood barriers). We will only have to do this until the year 2100, when then we can try new methods such as averting global warming.

-->
@PoliceSheep

Oh yeah, no problem man.

-->
@DynamicSquid

Thanks for leaving it blank - I'm really sorry for not getting an argument in!

-->
@PoliceSheep

I'll fix it

There, 3 days

-->
@DynamicSquid

I'd take this debate on, but I couldn't do though enough responses in just two days.

-->
@Username

Well, without giving to much information away, adapting to global warming could be relocating to inner land, or perhaps creating new farms in suitable climates.

-->
@TheRealNihilist

That may be true, I guess I just have a very thin concept of what adapting to global warming would necessarily be.

-->
@Username

If he tells you he is giving an argument to you.

-->
@DynamicSquid

What would you say is an example of adapting to global warming?

-->
@Jeff_Goldblum

Yes, we should definitely do both, but for the sake of this debate, you can only chose one option.

Although I'm pretty pessimistic about our chances of significantly averting climate change's worst effects, I think we should be doing both. The debate's premise sets up a false binary.