‘Serious, Certain and Soon’
EmailThat’s the operative quote to us from Linda Mearns of the Natonal Center for Atmospheric Research, after the IPCC delivered this morning: "The problem is now recognized as being serious, certain and soon."
The newest climate-change report, as promised, warns of floods, droughts, storms and extinctions. Click on the "Summary for Policymakers" HERE.
"Observational evidence from all continents and most oceans shows that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases," it says on p. 2.
"Much more evidence has accumulated over the past five years to indicate that changes in many physical and biological systems are linked to anthropogenic warming," it says on p. 3.
Those who criticize IPCC reports as politically negotiated will find plenty of ammo, for whatever position they already favored.
For instance, reports Arthur Max of the AP in Brussels, there’s a phrase that said, "There is very high confidence that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases." China–the second greatest producer of carbon emissions after the U.S., and projected to become number one by 2009, objected to the word "very."
A sampling of response from the White House, which had Sharon Hays, from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, speak for it: "The key message there, I think, is that these projected impacts are expected to get more pronounced at higher temperatures.
"I think there’s a couple of additional facts to note, in terms of this projection of this range of future impacts, including the fact that not all projected impacts are negative.
"And particularly higher potential future temperatures, the range of projected impacts becomes increasingly negative and there are significant impacts that are possible."
A full transcript from the White House briefing is HERE.
Muted responses from different interest groups, perhaps because of Good Friday, perhaps because the report, surveying research already done, does not say a lot you haven’t heard before. Heavy reading on a holiday weekend.
Space Station Flies Over Eastern U.S. at Night 
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Personally, I have a rather bleak view of humanity’s seriousness about this issue. The politicians have shown a marked disaffection for the subject, because they can’t control it directly, or even indirectly by legislation. And, there’s the old political argument that if they do something unpopular the voters will avoid them.
Too, I wonder if the positive efforts can overcome the birthrate and, by implication, the added drain on resources.
Posted by: Andy | April 6, 2007, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
ned..look at the world population from 1 AD to present! too many people on earth IS the problem. however, i feel global climate changes naturally with fluctuations, of course. year by year….but major changes to be measured in centuries! just look at the history of our planet. let’s keep our heads and not panic!
Posted by: stan | April 9, 2007, 7:55 am 7:55 am
I tend to agree with Andy’s remarks in that our elected officials have shown little interest in climate change because they can’t do anything about it directly, and the officials always want to play to the voters whenever they do anything. I think it’s incumbent on voters to make their wishes known on climate change to their representatives to emphasized how important the issue is. It may not be much as a first step, but at least it’s a start.
Posted by: chuck | April 10, 2007, 8:51 am 8:51 am