People shouldn't be concerned about global warming, a speakersaid Thursday night.
Pat Michaels, Virginia climatologist, lectured on "GlobalWarming: The End of the Story" to more than 150 people.
Michaels showed data from Energy Information Administration thatthe level of carbon dioxide emissions increased at a consistentrate, leveled off and is now declining.
"The growth rate of carbon dioxide will be at best 0.4 percentper year," Michaels said.
Michaels said the National Center for Atmospheric Researchshowed that if America were to follow the Kyoto Protocol, thereduction of emission of carbon dioxide would prevent only a 0.07degree Celsius increase in the next 50 years.
The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement of more than 160countries, aims to reduce emission of greenhouse gases, primarilycarbon dioxide, in the atmosphere, according to Energy InformationAdministration Web site.
"Kyoto does nothing, and further, we know how much it is goingto warm," Michaels said. "The temperature will increase about 1.5degree Celsius over the next 100 years."
Michaels said the increase is insignificant.
Some people dispute Michael's views. though.
"I consider that Michaels is to the science of climate changelike the Flat Earth Society is to the science of planetary shape,"Peter Gleick, a conservation analyst and president of theOakland-based Pacific Institute for Studies in Development,Environment and Security said in The Star Press Wednesday.
Michaels, however, said Gleick uses an outdated view.
"He used old sources of 10 years ago," Michaels said Thursdaynight.
Robert Schwartz, assistant professor of geography, said globalwarming is a controversial topic in science and governmentpolicy.
"Global warming issue is the most complicated scientific issueever confronting mankind," Michaels said.
Schwartz said he invited Michaels to speak at Ball State becausehe is well-known, well-published and credible.
"I let people make up their own minds whether he (Michaels) isright or wrong," Schwartz said.
John Frye, graduate student in geography, said Michaels providedinformation that most in the general public do not know, and ithelped clear some confusing issues, he said.
Michaels is a research professor of environmental sciences atthe University of Virginia and visiting scientist with the MarshallInstitute in Washington, D.C. He wrote several books and academicjournals and appeared in print and broadcast.
According to Nature magazine, Michaels may be the most popularlecturer in the nation on the subject of global warming.
The number of attendance to colloquiums grew from 30 to 120during the semester. The colloquium is sponsored by George andFrances Ball Fund for Academic Excellences and the Department ofGeography.
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