Actually, volcanoes only emit a fraction of the CO2 we do with our burning of fossil fuels. Volcanic eruptions occurred throughout the warming and cooling periods recorded in time. There has been a dramatic spike in CO2 in our atmosphere in the last 100+ years. All natural sources of CO2 and other greenhouse gases have remained constant. For example, volcanoes are not erupting more than they used to. This is where the connection to human activity comes in. We know burning fossil fuels releases CO2. We know we've been burning a lot of it - outpacing natural sources in the last 120 years. We know CO2 is a greenhouse gas. So, this is the human connection to climate change.

If we played a large role over the last century releasing CO2, couldn't we play a large role curbing it in the next century? I can't just leave a mess for my kids and their kids - not when I know better. I'm not comfortable with the philosophy that it's all going to end anyway. With that mindset why would anyone take care of anything or anyone?