Aim of global warming mitigation

When attempting to reduce global warming and its effects we are inclined to strive towards the temperature levels Earth would have had without human influence. This raises some issues:

• It's difficult to know exactly what that level would be. If scientific measurements and models fail, what will guide our response?
• Man is part of nature, as are his actions. This makes global warming "natural", while featuring many characteristics that are atypical when compared to other species and ecosystems.

As humans increasingly take on the role of "stewards" of planet Earth, we should agree on some basic principles:

• Maintain balance within the biosphere for climatic systems, ecosystems, and natural resources.
• Maintain environmental stability while not interfering with the "natural" development of ecosystems and species.
• Consider the inherent value of all species and their place in the web of ecosystems.

-- GeirThomasAndersen - 03 Sep 2006