Halon dumps: a data point

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Thu Sep 14 15:30:07 2000

Eric J. Korpela wrote:
> We might not know exactly what the effects of pumping vast amounts of CO2
> into the atmosphere will be, but we know there will be effects. Isn't that
> a good enough reason to exercise caution?

No. It's unlikely that we simply stop producing CO2. More likely we
replace processes that produce CO2 with processes that produce other
waste products. The environmental impact of those other waste products
is even *less* understood.

> I think you also underestimate the quality of the data regrading the effects
> of stratospheric chlorine compounds on the ozone layer. No one claims
> that it is the only thing affecting ozone concentrations, but very few
> would deny that it is having an effect.

Some of them do deny that it's having an effect. The actual measurements
do not back up the claim that decreased use of CFCs will reduce the ozone
hole.

The point isn't that the hypothesis is wrong, but that it's not sufficiently
tested, and that there is in fact counterevidence. So it's foolish to
rush out and change from using CFCs with well-known properties to other
chemicals with less known effects.

> You are as guilty of letting your pollitics influence
> your view of reality as they are.

As are you.
Received on Thu Sep 14 2000 - 15:30:07 BST