The debate on the topic of global warming is very heated. There are many skeptics who do not believe in the existence of global warming. However, the theory that global warming is real is valid. The fact is, global warming is real and it's here. There is more than enough evidence to assure the existence and disastrous effects of global warming. The Earth and its inhabitants continue to suffer the consequences every day. There are critics who do their best to deny the fact that global warming is a real problem to worry about. However, these skeptics will feel the heat sooner or later, because they are playing with fire. According to Mark Hendrickson, a writer for Forbes magazine, global warming can be considered a hoax or the crime of the century. It concluded that if there were a global plan to reduce the production of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas believed to have made a large contribution to global warming, the planetary cost could reach $552 trillion. Even with the global reduction in production, it would simply reduce the global temperature by a couple of hundredths of a degree. He states that the idea is “…worse than crazy; is criminal” and that it is “…the ugly truth about what could potentially be the crime of the century.” Although he creates an extremely convincing argument, he nevertheless fails to see the overall benefits of such a project. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere act like a mirror that reflects heat back to Earth (cause 2). This means that reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will not immediately reduce global temperatures, but will prevent them from rising in the years to come. Also, r... middle of paper... Drickson, Mark. "Climate change: 'hoax' or crime of the century?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, September 16, 2012. Web. December 15, 2013. Mastrandrea, Michael D., and Stephen H. Schneider. NASA – Global warming. World online book reference center. 2005. October 13, 2013. World Book, Inc."Hybrid Values." NRDC: hybrid values. Natural Resources Defense Council, July 20, 2009. Web. December 24, 2013. “Methane Emissions.” BEE. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. December 18, 2013. Muller, Richard A. “The Case Against Global Warming Skepticism.” Wall Street Journal. Wall Street Journal, October 21, 2011. Web. November 22, 2013. Vini, Michael. “Methane Emissions in US Exceed Estimates, Study Finds.” The New York Times. The New York Times, November 25, 2013. Web. December 18. 2013.