First, I want to make it clear that I am not a “denier.” I do not deny that our planet has warmed about 1.0øF. during the 20th century. Nor do I deny that humans may have played some part because of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. But environmentalists, politicians and climate scientists have been so determined to make their case and pass the disastrous Waxman-Markey cap and tax bill that they have not only ignored or misrepresented some “inconvenient” facts, but have publicly maligned anyone who dared to question the accuracy of their assertions.

One assertion is that there is a linear relationship between carbon dioxide and temperature; that as atmospheric CO2 increases, so do world temperatures.

But a graph comparing global temperature and carbon dioxide reveals that the 1930s were markedly warmer than both the 1920s and the 1940s, but the atmospheric CO2 concentration during all three decades was similar.

CO2 is essential for life on earth. Plants require it for photosynthesis.

However, CO2 is a “trace gas,” making up less that 0.04% of the total atmosphere. Isn’t it likely that there are other factors contributing to the rising temperatures, given that CO2 is such a small proportion of the atmosphere?

In fact, world temperatures have not risen since 1998 even though atmospheric CO2 levels have continued to increase.

Scientists think that El Niño caused that year’s high temperatures, acknowledging that Mother Nature does play an important role in world climate – past, present and future.

Europe experienced an extended “Little Ice Age” lasting hundreds of years during which glaciers advanced, tree growth was stunted and people held “frost fairs” on the frozen Thames River.

Reduced solar activity and numerous volcanic eruptions are suggested as possible causes.

An article on the Internet leads with this sentence: “U.S. satellite measurements show Arctic Sea ice extent in 2009 -the area of the Arctic Ocean covered by floating ice – was the third lowest since satellite measurements were first made in 1979.”

Read a little further and you come to this: “The 2009 ice cover was 370,000 square miles greater than 2007’s record low and 220,000 square miles greater than 2008’s.”

In other words, Arctic Sea ice has been increasing since 2007!

What about the shrinking glacier on Mt. Kilimanjaro? The New York Times editorialized that it “is one of the clearest signs” of global warming. Not so. A more likely cause is the deforestation of Kilimanjaro’s foothills.

During photosynthesis, trees lose water as CO2 moves into the leaves through the stomata and O2, produced during photosynthesis, moves out. Winds that previously held moisture now blow dry.

There simply isn’t sufficient moisture to replenish the ice that is melting in the hot equatorial sunshine. Meanwhile, glaciers are growing in Norway, Pakistan, Ecuador and Canada, to name a few places.

It is clear that there is much more to be learned about “climate change.” Let’s not succumb to fear and guilt and act rashly.