The Physics of Copenhagen: Why Politics-As-Usual May Mean the End of Civilization
In Copenhagen, if the U.S. is willing to treat climate change as politics-as-usual, most of the other major players will simply follow suit. They’ll sign some kind of paper in Denmark — that became all but certain on Friday night when Obama announced he’d jet in for the meeting’s close. European leaders and some environmental groups may then call it a “qualified success,” and on we will go through more years of negotiation. In the meantime, physics will continue to operate, permafrost will continue to thaw, sea ice to melt, drought to spread. It’s like nothing we’ve ever faced before — and we’re facing it as if it’s just like everything else. That’s the problem.
A Debate on Climate Change, the Most Important Topic of our Time
Be sure to watch Elizabeth May and George Monbiot debate Bjørn Lomborg and Lord Nigel Lawson today beginning at 6:30 PM EST in Toronto.
More Countries Recognizing the Importance of Stronger Targets at Copenhagen
It hasn’t made massive headlines in Europe; in fact it’s hardly been noticed. But over the last fortnight, three big countries have made major new pledges to cut their emissions of carbon dioxide from industry, transport and deforestation which is causing climate change.
Since 12 November, Russia, South Korea and Brazil have all announced new targets for cutting CO2, leading to a significant improvement in hopes for the outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit, which is now only two weeks away – and which, it was announced yesterday, at least 65 world leaders will attend.
Too Stupid to Take Action on Climate Change? It’s Time to Get Smart and Get Started
In addition to reducing greehouse gas emissions to zero as quickly as possible and developling more carbon sinks, such as planting a many trees as possible, we must concurrently begin research and development of ways to artificially remove carbon from our atmosphere. The excess carbon we have to rid our planet of is the equivalent of the mass of over four Mount Rainiers.
A Conversation With Dr. James Hansen – The Earth Island Institute
The approach that Copenhagen is using to specify goals for emission reductions and then to allow offsets to accomplish much of that reduction is really a fake. For the general public, it actually makes sense to move more rapidly beyond fossil fuels. If world leaders won’t act, civil resistance may have to be an option.
Countdown to Copenhagen – Contemplating the Possibility of Failure
The United Nations is planning a form of diplomatic shock therapy for world leaders this week in the hope of injecting badly needed urgency into negotiations for a climate change treaty that, it is now widely acknowledged, are dangerously adrift.
George Monbiot: Wherever temperatures peak, that is more or less where they will stay. There is no going back
Governments’ hopes about the trajectory of temperature change are ill-founded. Most, including the UK’s, are working on the assumption that we can overshoot the desired targets for temperature and atmospheric concentrations of CO2, then watch them settle back later. What this paper shows is that wherever temperatures peak, that is more or less where they will stay. There is no going back.
Increased Interest in ‘Artificial Trees’ for Removal of Carbon from Atmosphere
Many climate scientists calculate that the world has only a few decades to reduce emissions before there is so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that a dangerous rise in global temperature is inevitable. The authors of this report say that geo-engineering of the type they propose should be used on a short-term basis to buy the world time, but in the long term it is vital to reduce emissions.
Will Dangerous Climate Change Be Mitigated In Copenhagen This December?
Even though the science concerning climate mitigation is clear, “political and ethical complexities remain as contested as ever,” and a December deal in Copenhagen “is not guaranteed,” a new report, “Tripping Points,” warns.
