I'm concerned that some people still misunderstand my position on global warming. I think the misunderstanding is a result of black-and-white thinking on the subject -- that is, that one must either believe global warming is a myth or one must believe that humanity will be extinct in the next ten years. My position is somewhere in the middle of a continuum between those two extremes.

So to celebrate the new IPCC report, here are my fundamental beliefs on the current state of global warming, stated as simply as I can. At some point in the future, I'm going to compare my beliefs to the IPCC report. (A cursory review found most of my beliefs either confirmed or unaddressed.)

Note: For this discussion, I'm assuming that carbon dioxide does indeed raise atmospheric temperature, though a QandO post reminded me today that there is some reason to doubt that.

• Global warming is occurring. It's simple enough to observe temperatures increasing and ice caps melting, so I have no reason to doubt this.
• Global warming will have environmental consequences. Climate affects all things. As sea level rises, the coastlines will change. I personally believe the change will be slow enough that humans can adapt.
• Global warming will harm humans, animals, and plants. It's inevitable, but such things have always happened and they always will happen.
• Global warming is a natural phenomenon. Sediment studies show that recurring periods of warming and cooling have occurred long before humans even existed.
• Global warming is affected by humans. Perhaps surprisingly, I agree with this. Humans are part of the ecosystem, so it makes sense that they would affect it. Expanding human population, cutting down trees, and automobile exhaust all contribute to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This does not mean I think humans caused global warming.
• Global warming was not caused by industrialization. The industrial period (which the IPCC defines as after 1750) just happened to coincide with a natural warming cycle.
• Global warming was not caused by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel emissions contribute to warming, but they are not the sole cause for warming. Reducing carbon emissions will only slightly reduce the rate of warming.
• Global warming will not stop by reducing carbon emissions. The warming process is already in motion, and it's feeding upon itself. Reducing carbon emissions will, at best, only delay the end of the warming cycle. We would have to actively work to cool the planet to get back to the climate of 1750.
• Global warming will not destroy the human race. Humans are notoriously adaptable, and I have no doubt that the human species will adapt to a warmer climate and a changing planet.
• Global warming will not destroy the planet. The planet will be here long after we're gone. It has survived volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, ice ages, meteorites, asteroids, and comets.

Thomas Krehbiel writes The Krehbiel Strikes Back, a generally centrist commentary on news, media, politics, and culture.