So we've been covering this topic loosely for a bit now in my basic (VERY basic) freshman science course. I heard from multiple sources that the global temperature has increased 1.8 degrees Celsius since the 1800s, and that the standard set for an Ice Age is roughly 5 degrees Celsius below normal temps worldwide. If we continue on this trail of consumption, burning more and more and more resources, destroying the environment, and using cheap, dirty energy how much longer will it take for everything to go to shit? You've surely seen the news coverage in the Chinese cities like Shanghai and Bangkok recently, the people can't even breathe their own air. Already, much of the pollution is finding its way overseas on air currents and coming down on the west coast of the USA. So at what point does it no longer become sustainable? When does the globalized ("Americanized" might be a better term) economy fall to pieces? Do you guys have any thoughts on this issue? If so, please try to keep things civil. EDIT: apparently half of bnet believes that global warming is a hoax.