Ban Ki-moon is asking governments to act on climate change. Apparently 'real and affordable ways to deal with the problem' already exist.-

We know its happening, we know it can be addressed, and we know its not too expensive.

There really is no excuse for leaving this legacy to future generation.

The latest information should be considered:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7098902.stm

Just anecdotally, I've been thinking the same thing based on the articles coming out ... the process is moving along more quickly than predicted by the consensus authorities. -- Louis J Sheehan

It's all happening faster than even the worst case scenarios of the IPCC envisioned. Yet we are constantly bombarded with people complaining that the IPCC is alarmist, and that people who are concerned about this issue are alarmist... that everybody needs to take a big breather. But if the evidence shows it is happening faster than even the worst prediction who is being alarmist? We should all be alarmed. Even more so than we currently are. Im all for cool headed rationalism when it comes to science and politics, but when does the discussion end and the action begin?


Andrew

__________________
Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Of course, the original projections could've been flawed in some way, which would could, conceivably, mean that "climate change" is happening exactly when it should...

__________________
Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

THE SKY IS FALLING!

What a complete and utter farce the Global Warming myth is.

__________________

Yeah, we have heard you say that before. Yet you fail to provide any compelling evidence that in any way contradicts the available science on the issue. Still waiting..... until then you are merely being a gadfly.

Andrew

__________________
Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Louis, Andrew - yes it is.

I recall more than a decade ago reading, from reputable scientists who recognised there was a serious issue with anthropogenically influenced GW, that those who talked about the rate of warming we are seeing now were scaremongers.

I guess I thought so too at the time, although I recognised it was going to be a major issue shaping up for the future.

At this stage though ... I'm still not 100% convinced that what we are seeing is ALL global warming. I do believe its the unhappy confluence of both AGW, AND a normal climatic variation that occurs every few hundred years.

This cycle will normally result in major crises in any case ... if we haven't experienced famine in a democracy its only because we haven't experienced this cycle during the last two hundred years. Combined with the AGW though - it may result in a completely different scenario - possibly not a famine in advanced western democracies - but massive food shortages in other places.

On the plus though, we actually do know what we can do about it - our food production techniques (although expensive, and overutilising scarce resources) have improved dramatically, and we've become better at risk management and disaster response. Take a look at the flooding in Bangladesh, and compare that to floods there in the seventies and early nineties.

But all that said - the simple fact is we can not rely on individuals to address what is a global problem. That would be like expecting individuals to deal with crime without the help of the police force and a judicial system. The responses would not be consistent, and would be unlikely to address the issue and offer realistic solutions.

Were you around during the fifties, sixties and seventies when global cooling and the next ice age were the problem? Anyone that says money, instead of action can cure a problem (carbon credits) is a charlatan. Once it became political, it became a dead issue. It will never go anywhere as long as it is a "tax the US" debate. Sorry, but Albore sunk the issue, even if it were to be real. The obvious Socialist leanings are more than most rational people can stomach. Pity. It will be a shame if GW is real and the idiot politicos derailed the issue because of their lust for the US money.

__________________

FIGHT HIGH ENERGY PRICES BY FIGHTING GLOBAL WARMING!

Increasing energy efficency is the key to tackling Global Warming...
And it's also the key to have more money in your wallet.

It's as simple as that... Build a normal house or build a energy efficent house... the difference is usualls 5-10% of the construction cost.
But when you go with the later you can save 60-90% of the running cost untill ever.
Same for cars, factories, powerplants,...

Most people don't think about such things... Fighting global warming is not so much a matter of politicians or cooperations as it is of each indiviual. The technology to fight it is already available and it can save money for everyone who uses it.
I am very tired of always hearing the enviromentalist point of view on global warming... it simply also makes a lot of ecconomic sense to modernize.

People should start considering the long term benefits of energy efficency... and it's not just a green future... it's also a green wallet

__________________