GENEVA—A new report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned Monday that global warming is likely to become completely irreversible if no successful effort is made to slow down the trend before 2006.
Unless greenhouse-gas emissions are drastically reduced by then, the report concludes, it will be too late to avoid inflicting a grave environmental catastrophe upon future generations.
“We have absolutely no time to waste,” said Dr. William Tumminelli, lead author of the report, which stresses it is utterly crucial the world cut its carbon footprint in half by the year 2000. “If we wait until 1998 or even 1995 to really start doing something about climate change, our planet’s rising temperature will already have set in motion a series of devastating and irreparable long-term consequences. We need to have strict international rules in place well ahead of 2006 or, to be blunt, many of the earth’s inhabitants will be doomed.”
“The situation could not possibly be more urgent,” Tumminelli added.
The IPCC report—the most comprehensive study of its kind ever undertaken—estimates the failure to address global warming immediately could result in sea levels rising 6 inches by the end of the 20th century, 2000-2009 being the hottest decade ever recorded, and roughly half the Arctic ice cap melting by 2011.
Even before 2006, when the report indicates the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will reach “entirely unmanageable levels,” scientists confirm the likelihood of an alarming increase in the frequency and severity of hurricanes, floods, heat waves, and droughts, which could lead to death tolls in the hundreds of thousands.
“Climate change is the deadliest crisis currently facing humanity, so needless to say, we can expect it to be the dominant issue of the 2000 presidential election,” Brookings Institution political analyst Gloria Leting said. “It stands to reason that, as the world’s foremost producer of greenhouse gases, the United States will want to take the lead in preventing this disaster while we still have time.”
“We can also count on hearing U.S. Senate candidates make firm campaign promises to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as soon as they take office,” continued Leting, referring to the U.N. accord that aims to enforce emission standards starting in 2005. “Our elected officials realize Americans don’t want to suffer the embarrassment of not being among the first nations to approve such an vitally important agreement.”
I will say it yet again-if all the government handouts to the "global warming crowd" stop there will be no more "global warming" or "climate change" or whatever else they want to call it. This is the same crowd that plays with the numbers and used to be "global cooling" freaks. Money keeps the big lie moving. It is time to stop this crap.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseEverything old is new again:
"EA: Warming may be irreversible by 2017
LONDON, Nov. 11 (UPI) — Rising energy demands could result in irreversible global warming by 2017 without strict new standards, an energy watchdog group said this week in London."
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseKudos to Pablo.
I had a 2017 bell ring when I read about the 2006 doomsday warning. I was going to try to find a link.
This reminds me of the end of the world disappointments we have read about coming from other religious fundamentalists. Not to mention Nostradamus.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse?? The IEA warning came out less than a month ago. This is what the Onion piece is riffing on.
If it were religious fundamentalists saying global warming was occurring you would have a good point. But it's actually the vast majority of scientists saying this. That's why we should take it seriously.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe vast majority of scientists agree that the earth has warmed about 0.6C over the last 100 years. (Stopping 13 years ago)
The vast majority do not agree that most, much less all of this warming is caused by man.
You need to learn to tell more convincing lies.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuselinks, please!
I'll start:
2011 (Farnsworth )study of 489 scientists: “Of those surveyed, 97% agreed that that global temperatures have risen over the past century.”
2010 (Anderegg) study of 1,372 climate researchers “(i) 97–98% of the climate researchers most actively publishing in the field support the tenets of ACC (Anthropogenic Climate Change) outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and (ii) the relative climate expertise and scientific prominence of the researchers unconvinced of ACC are substantially below that of the convinced researchers.”
2009 (Doran) 76 out of 79 climatologists who "listed climate science as their area of expertise and who also have published more than 50% of their recent peer-reviewed papers on the subject of climate change" believe that mean global temperatures have risen compared to pre-1800s levels, and 75 out of 77 believe that human activity is a significant factor in changing mean global temperatures
2007 (STATS) study of 489 scientists: “The survey found 97% agreed that global temperatures have increased during the past 100 years; 84% say they personally believe human-induced warming is occurring, and 74% agree that “currently available scientific evidence” substantiates its occurrence. Only 5% believe that that human activity does not contribute to greenhouse warming; and 84% believe global climate change poses a moderate to very great danger.”
Feel free to correct these lies over at wikipedia where I found them:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_opinion_on_climate_change#Surveys_of_scientists_and_scientific_literature
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThank Gaea there is still time! I've applied for a patent for a process that turns plastic shopping bags into cupcakes, should have that approved by 2005.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe sad thing is, sometimes I look at a headline and wonder if I'm looking at Onion or a "legitimate" outlet.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUm, I love how the piece makes more fun of the deniers than anything else but that is completely lost on the NRO crowd. The gist is: ha ha, we're screwed, should have already acted. From the timeline image:
2011 - Instead of hurdling irresponsibly into a future filled with worldwide flooding droughts and famine human population can rest easy knowing it took these recommendations seriously and saved the only planet it has
And further on:
"The picture by the end of the 21st century becomes quite bleak, frankly," Dr. Tumminelli said. "I, for one, would not want to live in the world this report describes: entire Asian cities underwater from monsoon flooding, mass human diasporas, wars fought over the scraps of habitable land still remaining—hell on earth, basically. Our only hope is for the nations of the world to put aside their individual interests and take decisive action by 2006."
Although the report represents the collaborative efforts of several thousand scientists, some observers expressed doubt about the objectivity of the study.
"I think the report is a bit reactionary, and perhaps even politically motivated." said Arthur Bainbridge, a climate policy specialist based in Washington. "Plenty of alternative models have estimated 2008 or even 2010 as the absolute point of no return."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't think you're reading the Onion's attitude right. The Onion is firmly and solidly Establishment, like all "rebellious" comedians and "satirical" TV shows. Just like the old Soviet magazine Krokodil, they NEVER make fun of The Party.
This piece is not making fun of the IPCC and the Gaian pseudo-scientists; it's taking the side of the Gaian pseudo-scientists and satirizing "anti-science" American heretics.
The Onion is saying "It's too late now. Amerikkka destroyed the world."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYeah, this Onion piece is definitely making fun of climate change denialists. Also, kudos to KitchenTable for pointing to how overwhelming the expert consensus on global warming actually is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse