Greenhouse gas cuts just 'token gestures'

[clear eye]

Source: The Independent (UK)

Copenhagen won't prevent disaster, warns top scientist
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor, Monday, 7 December 2009

The cuts in greenhouse gas emissions being proposed at the Copenhagen climate conference, which opens today, are completely inadequate to stop dangerous climate change, one of Britain’s leading climate scientists warns.


Current proposals, including recent ones from major emitting nations such as the US, China and India, are “little more than token gestures”, compared to what the science deems necessary to give even a 50-50 chance of staying below the danger threshold, says Professor Kevin Anderson, Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester.

Writing in The Independent today, Professor Anderson cautions that with the commitments currently on the table in Copenhagen, global emissions of carbon dioxide will peak far too late for temperature rises to stay below two degrees Centigrade above the pre-industrial level, which is regarded as the limit that the earth and human society can safely stand.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-cuts-just-token-gestures-1835499.html

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Sorry for ruining your day. I guess it's better to know than not. Maybe.

[wpsedgwick]

1. While that may be...

It is a step in the right direction. The world is so far behind on instituting real and lasting global climate policy that nothing short of a miracle could provide the extensive change that is needed. However, like I said, its a start...And in my opinion, a great sign that there will be more progressive changes in the near future.

[SkyDaddy7]

2. Seriously, lets be honest....

It will take a several major disasters on the scale of Katrina before anything of real consequence happens. Plus, the hacked emails did not help at all!

I know, the hacked emails do not change the facts but they do matter to public that already denies Evolution and Global Warming.

[kenfrequed]

5. Of course by then...

It will likely be too late to arrest the worst cse scenarios with regards to climate change.

[vinylsolution]

3. Small steps forward are still steps taken in the right direction....

.... but this is where a massive surge is really needed, not in Afghanistan or on Wall Street.

We not only have to want it, we have to demand it.

[villager]

4. Well, word would've gotten out when "high tide" reached those 3rd floor beachfront condos...

n/t

[glinda]

6. I think it has already rolled off the edge so the whole approach should be "repair

repair repair ASAP". Not these stupid baby steps. Sure something is better than nothing but "a little something" ain't going to do it.