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Some comments:
The methane problem from animals (and humans) isn't really a problem.
Cow eats grass, cow farts, methane is released into the air. Methane eventually and continuously breaks down into CO2 and H2O ...and is re-absorbed by the grass. Cow eats grass, farts again etc... ...net result is
zero atmospheric overload, providing there is not a huge increase in the number of gassy critters on the planet. The entire process recycles itself.
So it is also true if all the carbon in fossil fuels were released, the atmosphere would just be back where it was before the ancient plants became fossils... ...when the CO2 laden planet was probably uninhabitable by humans. Plants love CO2 the way we love Oxygen.
Just think. If plants took over, on a quiet night you could not only hear metal cars rusting, but fiberglass oxidizing as well... ...from all the excess oxygen. Just kidding.
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I've heard the
largest user of diesel fuel is the U.S. Navy ...and BNSF railroad is second. On my subdivision, we burn 1800-2400 gallons of fuel to move 32 million pounds of coal 200 miles in 12 hours. The newer locomotives normally get better fuel efficiency than those built in the '80's and earlier. On the other hand, they have far less maintainence than in the past, so it is not unusual to observe at least one severe "smoker" in a power consist. I hate to think what kind of mileage an old aircraft carrier gets.
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Both Global Warming from CO2 and "over-board alarmist" reports are absolutely true.
Global Warming
Potential, or climate change from CO2 is true because there is no doubt that CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas by law of physics. But it might not be a problem if there is no tip-over point.
I can't think of much money motive, to be gained by alarmists. Do-gooder feeling maybe. But it is not uncommon for humans to be apprehensive, even overly apprehensive, about things that could kill us. Not much harm in being careful, even too careful. On the other hand, nobody saves lives. We can just barely postpone death if we are lucky. Then again, why push it?
But I almost can't imagine the immense degree of financial motive the petroleum industry has to foster mis-information to the masses. The phrase,
"I'm from the mega-oil corporation and I'm just here to help you..." goes though my mind. Con job, no doubt. Or maybe not.
Noble prize nominee... G.W. in 2002. (
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/nobel.htm )
On the light side, something useful... Curing Hiccups: the Ig Nobel prize.
(
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10207.html )
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