James Hansen has a new paper out, co-authored with six other scientists: "Climate Change and trace gases." It appears in the current issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and Hansen says: "In my opinion, among our papers this one probably does the best job of making clear that the Earth is getting perilously close to climate changes that could run out of our control."
Steve Connor has a writeup in The Independent. Sounds like scary stuff:
"Civilisation developed, and constructed extensive infrastructure, during a period of unusual climate stability, the Holocene, now almost 12,000 years in duration. That period is about to end," the scientists warn. Humanity cannot afford to burn the Earth's remaining underground reserves of fossil fuel. "To do so would guarantee dramatic climate change, yielding a different planet from the one on which civilisation developed and for which extensive physical infrastructure has been built," they say.
Yes, but what about the coal executives and corn conglomerates? Are we willing to sacrifice their interests just to save the world?
Comments
View as Flat
Delay And Deny Posted 10:36 am
19 Jun 2007
Maybe we need to burn that hydrocarbon fuel as part of natural development.
After all, as Gold tells us, it's abiotic and inexhaustible.
John Bailo
You Read It Here First
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GreyFlcn Posted 11:58 am
19 Jun 2007
After all, as Gold tells us, it's abiotic and inexhaustible.
Has nothing to do with exhausting the supplies of carbon on the planet.
It has to do with the temperature of the planet.
Elements on the other hand survive in even the most harsh planets.
Humans, don't.
Last I checked, we'd like humans to stick around on this planet.
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Steve Bloom Posted 1:10 pm
19 Jun 2007
Seriously, everyone should read this paper.
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JohnCaley Posted 8:43 pm
19 Jun 2007
Hey it is much easier to ignore reality, after all what can any single person do ?
Hansen is not stupid, though I am sure you wish he was.
S O S Save OurSelves, omegafour.com
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Charles Barton Posted 2:48 am
20 Jun 2007
Charles Barton
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GreyFlcn Posted 11:05 am
20 Jun 2007
"You either want to invade Iraq, or you're on the side of the terrorists"
False Dichotomy isn't something anyone with a legit arguement should need to use.
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Charles Barton Posted 11:52 am
20 Jun 2007
Charles Barton
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GreyFlcn Posted 11:59 am
20 Jun 2007
It's actually rather appropriate.
Nuclear is the reason we invaded in the first place.
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