More Climate Change thoughts and links ...
Who are the half a million people who have joined the virtual march?
The science is now very clear ...
Climate science from climate scientists
The main points that most would agree on as "the consensus" are:
1. The earth is getting warmer (0.6 +/- 0.2 ºC in the past century; 0.17 ºC/decade over the last 30 years
2. People are causing this
3. If Greenhouse Gas emissions continue, the warming will continue and indeed accelerate
4. (This will be a problem
and we ought to do something about it)
For more details see Climate
Change 2001:Working Group I: The Scientific Basis
But the consequences
of climate change are about people
...
(Point 4 above is in brackets because it is nothing to do with climate science!)
What should we do?
Its time to take action, but on what basis?
I am an ecologist and I know these changes will have huge impacts on the environment that we depend on for our survival.
Can we keep the planet habitable for our children?
We have the technology for 'clean' power within our reach ...
but we can not reverse major changes to the earth's climate!
Some write that humans have a responsibility to respect 'God's creation'.
Others express concern about the disproportionate burden of suffering that climate change will place on the poor.
Businesses want a clear policy framework, so that the transition to a climate-friendly economy is smooth.
Insurance companies take global warming very seriously, because they understand risk management:
"The threat to our existing way of life posed by global warming and climate change is far greater than is presently recognized in our community."
Tony Coleman, Insurance Australia Group.
What can we do?
The answers are out there!
Increasing energy efficiency is good - it saves money and helps reduce emissions!
Fossil fuel power needs to become cleaner, and quickly.
Trees and other natural carbon sinks need to be well-managed
Better energy sources (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal) must be introduced progressively, and technological advances fostered
People all over the world are doing things better - but we must learn from each other!
Check out this easy-to-read and positive book for ideas... it can be viewed or downloaded for free:
And regularly check these links to informative and up-to-date web portals:
www.climateark.org Climate Change and Global Warming Portal (and Search Engine)
www.ecoequity.org 'An opinionated selection of the recent literature'
globalwarmingwatch.blogspot.com An Australian site doing the hard yards to correct certain journalists (who really need correcting)... among other things.
See the movie 'An inconvenient truth' if you haven't already.
It covers the facts in an entertaining and informative way, and was rated at 4.5 out of 5 by the cream of Australia's climate scientists!
Click here for my Climate Change email ...
Click here to find out who to contact regarding Climate Change ...