The endless drumbeat of scary climate stuff just got scarier, for me:
From down under:
'No return' fears on climate change: The Age (Australia)
The world could be tracking towards irreversible climate change as warming takes place much quicker than previously thought, an Adelaide academic has warned. Climate change expert Barry Brook, of Adelaide University, told a Canberra conference [that] atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were headed towards 600 parts a million, and forecast global temperature increases of up to six degrees.... "We're seeing events predicted for the end of the 21st century happening already," Professor Brook said.... "We are at or exceeding the fossil-fuel-intensive scenario, which the latest IPCC report didn't cover because they thought it was too much," Dr Pittock said.
It's scarier because it jibes with my own worst fears and analysis, and because scientists rarely say these sorts of things out loud. To their friends, perhaps, and even their colleagues, but rarely in public forums.
Scientists are rational, evidence-based folks. They don't freak out. Their careers depend on it.
Scientists more often temporize, say "the evidence seems to indicate," or state that more study is needed before we can be sure.
But that's changing, as it becomes clearer to them:
From G8+5 Science Academies Call for International Action on Climate Change, Global Health: The National Academies this morning:
Today the science academies of the G8 countries, as well as China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, issued statements urging leaders worldwide to take action on two pressing global challenges. To mitigate and adapt to climate change, nations must begin a transition to being "low-carbon societies," a shift that will require energy-saving changes in all sectors -- from housing to transportation to industry -- and the development of a range of clean energy sources.
That in itself -- the science academies urging action -- is rare, and indicates deep disquiet among the experts within the academies.
And more and more, I'm seeing scientists speaking the truth: that it is probably worse than we thought. That we may have "misunderestimated" the speed, the scope, and the feedback systems of the climate.
This isn't tree-hugging passion. These are experts, men and women who have a vested interest in not being wrong, who are now (finally) coming forth.
The need for dramatic change is becoming ever-more obvious to the people who understand this stuff.
Not carbon markets, serious carbon taxes.
Not gradual shifts to solar and wind, a radical transformation away from oil and coal.
Not business-friendly movement toward change, but dramatic retooling of our society.
No, I don't think it's likely either. But god damn it, we have to set the bar high if we have a chance at a society we even recognize in ten years.