I admit that "global warming" is an issue in which I am not very well versed. I am however tired of how environmentalism has become a polarized left-right issue and want to learn more about the subject from legitimate and objective sources; preferably the original information from esteemed "climate change" scientists. Does anyone have any recommendations as to where I should begin my journey?

I would look directly into Glaciology.

Those guys are the front runners when it comes to the global effects of a warming Earth.

to be honest i think its cause more by deforestation the co2
the more ground we expose to direct light the more we heat the earth forest give a blanket of shad and use the light
plus evidence says were going to hit a minor tropic stage and back to a ice age
its not so much glodal warming but global shift its happend before and knockd us back in tec
also in my notes they says mars is the next origon but proof says the sun is able to spit out small planets if this is also true we would be moving out of our required rad zone and headig twards ice age
eather way you look at it freezing tempature will drop our oxigen and fire would consume it lol
add if you agree with any of it there alot more facts to it just saying basics

Trees are part of the Earth so photons hitting trees does not prevent heating. Now trees are involved in the carbon cycle so they do make an impact, but its not because they block photons.

Try the International Panel On Climate Change:

http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml