Here's an interesting thing I came across in my reading, Amos. It seems that global warming itself tends to cause an increase in the buildup up CO2 in the atmosphere through natural processes.

Thus, rather than the CO2 increase leading the warming, it may well be the other way around.

I am not saying CO2 is not a greenhouse gas. It is. And it contributes some to planetary warming. But what I am saying is that planetary warming phases themselves appear to cause more natural release of CO2, and that the part the CO2 plays in the process regarding increasing overall warming is quite small...and not the significant factor in starting off a global warming phase, which is more likely started off and basically governed by the changing flows of energy between the sun and the Earth.

More release of CO2 encourages the growth of plants. Increased vegetation in time reduces the CO2. So it's a self-balancing system, as long as plants are allowed to flourish over vast areas.

Hower, we ARE most definitely doing damage to the planet by cutting down our old growth forests, such as in the Amazon, and that's a huge problem. It leads to the ruination of land, desertification, destruction of many plants and animals, and so on. But this is another issue quite apart from CO2 and global warming.

Remember: the primary greenhouse gas is water vapor! So if you want to reduce greenhouse gases...stop watering your lawn!!!!! ;-)