Good point. And the current debate seems to combine these two quite separate questions into a single scientific question.
As such, a positive answer to #1 will automatically lead to a conclusion that human activity is to blame. Not very good science, in other words, even if human activities form a component of the warming.
Global warming is a great example of science being used for political or other ends, and scientists playing along with it.
I don't think at this point that any serious and even minimally informed individual is going to dispute that the answer to #1 is "Yes". The warming that has occurred within roughly the last 100 years is proven without a doubt.
As far as #2 goes, that's another matter altogether.
Yes, the Earth has been getting warmer since the 17th century. Before that it got colder for about 500 years, before that it got warmer for about 400 years, before that it got colder, etc.
2. What is the cause of it?
The Sun.
Actually, there are three more, all of which are probably more important than the first two:
3. If it's taking place, what will be the net results? (could be bad, but could also be good)
4. Are we capable of significantly influencing those results positively? (some people don't seem to comprehend that the answer could be "no")
5. If so, would it be worth it to do so? (it's possible that there's a global warming/climate change in store for us, that it would be bad, and that we could influence it positively, but it would simply cost more than it's worth to do so. Another possibility lost on many people.)
If your house was flooded, you wouldn't ask what the water was or where it came from, would you?
The real point here is that no one has a solution to remove the excess CO2 and only add back the right amount; yet they want to run the show at our cost.
1. Is global warming taking place?
2. What is the cause of it?
3. What are you going to do about it?
Everyone who believes that global warming is happening and evil cars and industry are the cause of it:
1. Get out of your car and make it into a planter.
2. Quit your job if it encourages industry.
C'mon, lets not just TALK about it and force me into doing something, get out there and LEAD.