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The Best Science Writing Online 2012
Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...
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If you were born after April 1985 you have never lived through a month that was colder than average. What's behind 27 years of warmth? Rising levels of greenhouse gases. Since the 18th century our fossil fuel burning and other activities have added more than 375 billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. And we add still more each year. 2011 set another record for greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
In the ongoing bid to change that trend, the world's nations are gathering in Doha, Qatar, over the next two weeks. Last year in Durban, South Africa these countries agreed to craft a globally binding treaty to limit greenhouse gas pollution by 2015.
But, obviously, there is a big gap between pledged pollution reductions and reality. And having the negotiations in a country that makes its living from selling oil and gas seems odd if the goal is to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels. It remains to be seen if the world can overcome this fossilized inertia. But if we don't, even the great grandchildren of today's youth may blame us for a planetary thermostat set to ever hotter.
—David Biello
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
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9 Comments
Add CommentI read an article a number of years ago about how we would all die from an asteroid impact. The interesting point about the article was that the problem isn't that we lack the technology to prevent it, it is because we don't have the political will, or really the collective intelligence to address a problem of that magnitude on those time scales. It was estimated that to avoid a collision we would need to act between 10-20 before the anticipated event. The problem is, what government would commit such a large percentage of its budget to a problem that wouldn't be solved until 5 terms of office later. In the short term there would be those that questioned the science and predictions and in the long term, if a solution did work, there would be those that would say it was a waste of time and money because there was no real danger in the first place. Much like what happened after Y2K when so many people claimed that there was never really a problem because nothing happened. I am seeing those preditions of doom from above being played out now in regards to AGW. There is no lack of solution, there is just a lack of political will and scientific literacy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisActually it's worse than that. It's willful stupidity and greed. Willful stupidity on the large number of people that put as much credence on the mainly fossil fuel bought and paid for so called dissenting opinion. Greed on the part of those directly involve in the production and use of fossil fuels as they don't want to give up control and the mega $ they extract out of the economy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"What to Expect from Climate Negotiations"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAbsolutely nothing - there is no political will in the White House or Peking to do anything significant about this problem. We are now on course - in fact it is unstoppable now - to have a 4C rise in temperature by 2100 - at that point some 40% of the planet will become desert through drought and heat. The planet, humanity, and most, if not all, of life is doomed and it won't be long. If you do not yet have children - please do not have any as you will be dooming them to an awful life and an early death.
Yes, people around the planet have been, are now, and will continue to be confused and frightened. However, it would seem prudent to pay attention to the numbers. The math doesn't lie.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPerhaps, Doha is an attempt to work around the political maze, avoid the minds suffering from myopicy, and get the scientists and those with means together before one third of the current population is in perill.
I am amazed still.
This likens itself to George Carlins favorite form of entertainment, the man running about slapping his head with boths hands because his hair is on fire.
Colder than average winter? CO2 is to blame.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat more proof do you need?
Come on David that’s just silly. It is just as silly as all those who use the arrival of winter as proof that global warming is a hoax. What is a hoax is that bureaucratic climate tourists who travel to the lands of the fossil fuel rich and famous will do anything to address this problem in anything like a reasonable timeframe.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDavid, I mean your first sentence is silly. If you think about it I'm sure you will agree.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMeetings of international leaders do not work because democracy does not represent future generations as it should do. World democracy currently allows 1,000,000,000 to starve, which leaves little hope for progress on environment issues.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not really convinced that CO2 emissions from humans (IE cars, trains, coal plants ect.) are to blame for the global temperature, nor that the "planetary thermostat" will be set to "even hotter" as a result. I am concerned about clean air because CO2 is poisonous. And I don't think anything will be done world wide about this issue, though it should.
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