GW- "end of civilisation as we know it"
Global warming "the end of civilisation as we know it"
"Of all the findings in the 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook, the one that merits the greatest international attention is the one that received the least. Even if governments take vigorous steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the report concluded, the continuing increase in fossil fuel consumption will result in “a long-term average global temperature increase of 3.6 degrees C.”
This should stop everyone in their tracks. Most scientists believe that an increase of 2 degrees Celsius is about all the planet can accommodate without unimaginably catastrophic consequences: sea-level increases that will wipe out many coastal cities, persistent droughts that will destroy farmland on which hundreds of millions of people depend for their survival, the collapse of vital ecosystems, and far more. An increase of 3.6 degrees C essentially suggests the end of human civilization as we know it.
To put this in context, human activity has already warmed the planet by about 0.8 degrees C — enough to produce severe droughts around the world, trigger or intensify intense storms like Hurricane Sandy, and drastically reduce the Arctic ice cap. “Given those impacts,” writes noted environmental author and activist Bill McKibben, “many scientists have come to think that two degrees is far too lenient a target.” Among those cited by McKibben is Kerry Emanuel of MIT, a leading authority on hurricanes. “Any number much above one degree involves a gamble,” Emanuel writes, “and the odds become less and less favorable as the temperature goes up.” Thomas Lovejoy, once the World Bank’s chief biodiversity adviser, puts it this way: “If we’re seeing what we’re seeing today at 0.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees is simply too much.”"
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/27/the_world_energy_reports_scariest_findings/
One way to solve Golbal warming is nuclear cooling, pretty much bomb the planet with nuclear weapons, and watch the ice age happen again.
On a serious note some things because of golbal warming are happening, such as polar bears moving away from the north pole. Reason being the ice is that the polar caps are melting, while grizzley bears are moving up for more cool temperatures. Also think about it this small change will change the world in such a way that the Middle East will become a rain forest, and Brazil becoming a desert.
No this will not happen in a year or so heck it might take 100 of years, but this small change will accumulate, think about it like depreciation.
ecological stresses bad for humans?
We know why we have warming. There is no rationale reason to suggest that cooling will occur next year if we continue with BAU.
I don't see how that is 'unimaginably catastrophic consequences'. Bad for polar bears, how so for humans?
The overall temperature of the planet has varied up and down since the earth was formed. As has the composition of the atmosphere. Maybe 21st century is warming and 22st century is cooling and everyone will worry about freezing to death.
the difficulty is predicting when they will occur. The IPCC reports have been in fact overly conservative in this area. Look at the original prediction for an summer sea ice free Arctic. It was by 2100. Now growing consensus is next couple of years. All this and other changes you are seeing around the world at 0.7 degree increase. What will 2 degrees bring?
How about this sentence:
'Most scientists believe that an increase of 2 degrees Celsius is about all the planet can accommodate without unimaginably catastrophic consequences:'
What a meaningless statement. What we do know is that the earth is going through a period of warming, after that we do not know much more and certainly not of the consequences.
of peer reviewed scientific papers on this stuff. Just look at the IPCC report for reference.
give me an example of one statement that you say is rubbish in the article.
good business (for some) in the name of environment.....nature will have its own cause n effect.
The MOTHER MONSTER’s coming very soon. Great tribulation is coming to the world. Repent & believe only before it’s too late!!!!
In a more serious note: Yes the end is coming, but all human predictions are wrong!
Khanan but you could do yani :P
Yani cannot do anything. He is just a music composer.
What to do yani?
the end is coming! Perhaps sooner than you think!
Quixote you hit on a very good point. 7 billion and still climbing, with India and China getting richer pollution will just increase signifcantly.
The earth could probably sustain about 1 billion rich homo sapiens but even if most humans get wiped out in wars, disease or famine the earth will continue.
Global warming, probably. Anthropomorphic global warming, rubbish. Why are we so arrogant that we think our tiny presence has such an effect? If we are really serious then lets talk about population control!
Weather patterns are changing. Human race will adjust accordingly. Some may perish, most will survive and adapt. Others will colonise other worlds and cities under the sea... :O)
We cant do anything its all "Gods Will"
Some of these statements are absolute rubbish. In earth's history, which is about 4 billion years, the planet has been much warmer than today so to say an extra 2C is catostrophic is pretty meaningless and just hyperbole. Yes conditions will change for humanity but you adapt or die. We cannot yet control the universe!