Scientists and journalists are worried about the condition of the planet for their own children and grandchildren , writes David Ray Griffin . The threat to civilization comes primarily from the increase of the level of carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) in the atmosphere , he says . According to Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research ( at the University of East Anglia ) , `` during New York 's summer heat waves the warmest days would be around 10-12C ( 18-21.6F ) However : The discovery of coal , oil , and natural gas has made the planet warmer than it had been since the beginning of civilization 4000 years ago . The resulting threat of runaway global warming is not merely theoretical , he writes .
Scientists and journalists are worried about the condition of the planet for their own children and grandchildren , writes David Ray Griffin . The threat to civilization comes primarily from the increase of the level of carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) in the atmosphere , he says . However : The discovery of coal , oil , and natural gas has made the planet warmer than it had been since the beginning of civilization 4000 years ago . The resulting threat of runaway global warming is not merely theoretical , he writes .