Global warming: the final verdict

January 25th, 2007  |  Published in Nature, Ecology, Science, Quotes  |  5 Comments

Global warming: the final verdict

Excerpt:

Global warming is destined to have a far more destructive and earlier impact than previously estimated, the most authoritative report yet produced on climate change will warn next week.

A draft copy of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, obtained by The Observer, shows the frequency of devastating storms - like the ones that battered Britain last week - will increase dramatically. Sea levels will rise over the century by around half a metre; snow will disappear from all but the highest mountains; deserts will spread; oceans become acidic, leading to the destruction of coral reefs and atolls; and deadly heatwaves will become more prevalent.

The impact will be catastrophic, forcing hundreds of millions of people to flee their devastated homelands, particularly in tropical, low-lying areas, while creating waves of immigrants whose movements will strain the economies of even the most affluent countries.

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  1. hynes says:

    January 25th, 2007 at 11:43 am (#)

    My hesitation with such reports are how much is the worst case scenario type of mentality, trying to scare fear into the world leaders (and population) into action.

    I don’t negate the fact that global warming could be happening and we need to take better care of the worldly resources we have been given; but why is it all such movements to curb our wastefulness needs to be legislated? With all the lobbying power that goes behind greenhouse gases and so forth, I would think trying to change a country’s habit via a grassroot movement versus being forced into it would engender more endearment to the goal then be forced to least expected.

  2. hynes says:

    January 25th, 2007 at 11:45 am (#)

    In addition (forgot to add this), this is largely how I’ve begun to change my lifestyle - people talked to me in a non-aggressive matter (without utilizing fear) about the need to take further care of our environment. Also coming face-to-face with the sheer numbers of our wastefulness caused me to want to change as well.

  3. Josh Sowin says:

    January 25th, 2007 at 11:51 am (#)

    (A reply to your first comment)

    What they are saying is certainly possible. The worst case scenario may be worse. It’s a wakeup call to what could happen if we don’t do something. Most people need a wakeup call about this issue.

    As for legislating, do you know of a more effective way to stop corporations from polluting the atmosphere and water? There’s been 30 years of knowledge and they haven’t changed their actions. I can’t stop the billowing smoke from the factory down the street without illegal actions, but the government has the power to do so — and should, I think. My neighbor can’t come over and destroy my property because there is legislation against it. My neighbor shouldn’t be able to poison the air I breath and the water I drink, either.

  4. hynes says:

    January 25th, 2007 at 12:15 pm (#)

    Yeah I see your point there. Agreed.

  5. Josh Sowin says:

    January 25th, 2007 at 2:48 pm (#)

    The article also says this is a “conservative” estimate:

    ‘The really chilling thing about the IPCC report is that it is the work of several thousand climate experts who have widely differing views about how greenhouse gases will have their effect. Some think they will have a major impact, others a lesser role. Each paragraph of this report was therefore argued over and scrutinised intensely. Only points that were considered indisputable survived this process. This is a very conservative document - that’s what makes it so scary,’ said one senior UK climate expert.

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