Where There's a Way, There's a Will

Where There’s a Way, There’s a Will 7

Third IPCC report says world can afford climate solutions

The third installment of the IPCC climate assessment is out, and the news is bad-good: it's going to take a lot of work to combat climate change, but it won't cost as much as many leaders have been claiming. The 120-nation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says greenhouse gases, which have risen 70 percent since 1970, must be cut by 50 to 85 percent of year 2000 levels by 2050. Doing so, it says, would cost 3 percent or less of the global GDP, and some changes could even provide an economic boost; incentives such as carbon taxes will be a key part of the picture, the panel says. The report describes emissions-cutting ideas ranging from replacing light bulbs (for real) to burying carbon, and IPCC leaders have also suggested lifestyle changes like eating less meat and dressing casually at work to reduce the need for air conditioning. "This report is all about solutions to climate change," says co-chair Ogunlade Davidson. "If we continue to do what we are doing now, we are in deep trouble."

straight to the source: BBC News, 04 May 2007

straight to the source: Yahoo! News, Agence France-Presse, Karl Malakunas, 04 May 2007

straight to the source: Scientific American, Reuters, David Fogarty, 04 May 2007

see also, in Grist: An explainer on the IPCC

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  1. howeird Posted 8:06 am
    04 May 2007

    3rd IPCC Reportsounds like China really, really tried to water down the report. seems like they succeeded in cahoots with Bushy Baby and that nin-com-poop from Down Under. not to forget Saudi-Arabia and other big gas producing countries who fear the loss of their incomes.... Hey everybody! stop and smell the exhaust fumes! if we don't change our lifestyles soon, we won't have one anymore!

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  2. randino Posted 9:10 am
    04 May 2007

    These glorious global conclavessort of remind me of how we "solve" problems in the good old USA. First some god awful catastrophe has to ensue. Then we empanel a blue ribbon commission, which studies the problem, issues a "hard hitting" and "disturbing" report with policy suggestions. Then the whole thing is shelved and forgotten about. In this way we have saved our cities, ended racism, banished poverty, and insured every American equal opportunity and a wonderful life.  
    You mean to say we haven't? Well that is my point. I have had quite enough of these farces. It is the people who are not getting noticed that will save the day. These blather fests will just document our demise. Nothing more.
    Randy Cunningham

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  3. calvinjones Posted 7:19 am
    05 May 2007

    China's attitude.Considering that car ownership in china is at the level it was in the US in 1905 it is remarkable that they are so far forward on climate change mitigation.
    In terms of justice they have ample right to keep poluting. Unfortunately this would destroy the planet, i think we must credit them for realising this. It looks likely that china and the US will accept the need for a carbon cap at around the same time, a remarkable state of affairs givien emissions of 4tco2 in chian and 20 in the US and given the huge numbers without basic needs such as clean water and electricity.
    As for chinese obstructionism of the IPCC, that isnt the picture comming out of the scientists.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqZvJCHlbow

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  4. calvinjones Posted 7:22 am
    05 May 2007

    IPCC Press Releases WG2 and WG3The webcasts of the working group two and three IPCC reports are available on you tube at my channel along with my favourite climate change videos.
    http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=calvinjones

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  5. michweek Posted 8:34 am
    06 May 2007

    Economic BoostIt's not hard to shut one factory down and open a new one. I don't see why there is so much talk about boosting the economy as a selling point to saving the environment. It's really not hard to do. And plenty of people are doing it, creating new jobs, new technologies and new policies. Stop talking about an economic boost and how it can happen, because it is happening. There's no question that saving the environment can also be economical.
    Even if it weren't, it saves lives from pollution and over processed foods, isn't that enough for people?

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  6. donnalhoffman Posted 1:37 am
    07 May 2007

    pls clarifyI thought the current IPCC report is The Fourth Assessment Report.  You refer to it as the 3rd.
    Could you clear this up for me?
    Thank you, Donna

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  7. sasquatch Posted 2:36 am
    07 May 2007

    WRG III report of the Fourth AssessmentDonna,

    I believe the 'third report' refers to the fact that this report is the third in a series of three reports, from the Fourth Assessment.  The first report of the year (February) was on the science, the second report (April?) was on the impacts, and this third report (May) is on the mitigation.
    The Fourth Assessment Synthesis report (combining the first, second and third reports from February, April and May) should come out in November.
    Hope that helps!

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