Mike the Usurper wrote:

adam wrote:

Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases may have more serious impacts than previously believed, a major scientific report has said.
...
In the report's foreword, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair writes that "it is now plain that the emission of greenhouse gases... is causing global warming at a rate that is unsustainable."

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said the report's conclusions would be a shock to many people.

rather a contrast to Bush who's having scientists gagged (see nyt)

Currently, the atmosphere contains about 380 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, compared to levels before the industrial revolution of about 275ppm.
...
"We're going to be at 400 ppm in 10 years' time, I predict that without any delight in saying it," he said.

"But no country is going to turn off a power station which is providing much-desired energy for its population to tackle this problem - we have to accept that.

"To aim for 450 (ppm) would, I am afraid, seem unfeasible."

i've never seen the figures before OMG
plus see the arctic retreat
we're in trouble

"We're killing the planet! We're killing the planet!" Folks, I have some news for you, the planet is going to go cheerfully spinning around the sun just like it has for eons. It is simply going to do so with many fewer of us on it.

While "The Day After Tomorrow" scenario is (probably) bad science, the shutdown of the Atlantic current (which appears to actually be happening) has two big effects. One, the north pole is going to react to that funny warming thing by getting colder. A LOT colder. As in Europe and a lot of the northern hemisphere gets covered by a great big block of ice colder. Second, All of that water has to come from somewhere, guess where? Think the drought conditions ramping up across America's breadbasket are going to improve?

We're not killing the planet, the planet wants to kill us for being bad stewards.

so is the answer to say that this little experiment in sentient life should just be wrapped up or "Do not go gentle into that good night,...Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Dylan Thomas

RE: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Stark warning over climate change