It has long been stated that 450 parts per million (ppm) represents a dangerous threshold for atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in regard to climate change. Noted climate activist Bill McKibben traces the arbitrary manner in which this was arrived [ark]. He further reports that leading climate scientist Jim Hansen [search], on the basis of more intensive observation of global warming as it unfolds, now proposes that the threshold for dangerous climate change is in fact 350 (ppm)!?

So what you may ask? Humanity has already pushed carbon concentrations from 275 ppm to 383 ppm. Thus the world's leading climate scientist has concluded we have already surpassed the point where global heating is dangerous, and is on the verge of becoming abrupt and run-away.

My take: we have cut and burnt our way to assured massively disruptive climate changes, yet the rapidity and urgency with which we take action will determine whether this is manageable. We need now to embark immediately upon sufficient climate change policies: an Apollo project for renewable energy, population control, ban on coal, end old-growth logging, reduce economic growth, and build sustainable relocalized communities built around bioregions. Actions of this magnitude are needed to survive.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry | Permalink | Comments (17) | More on carbon dioxide dangerous climate change

The Bush administration has denied approval for California’s plans to establish stricter vehicle emissions standards [ark | more2\ark2 | search ] than federal law to fight climate change. Apparently President Bush and oil oligarchy pals are not satifisfied with scuttling international cooperative measures, and doing next to nothing federally, now they are stopping states from leading on the greatest crisis ever. The announcement was made just after modest, far-off increases in automobile efficiency were signed into law [ark] -- national automobile fuel economy standards [search] are to be raised by 40 percent to 35 miles a gallon in 2020.

Thus the U.S. is to take 13 years to do what other nations and its own states are trying to do now. It is worse to stop others from acting than to do next to nothing yourself. It is difficult to capture in words the stupidity of this President, and as climate and ecosystems fail and the time of great suffering sets in, he and automobile and oil companies will be reviled. At least Bush, Cheney and Condi will be warm where they are going to spend all eternity.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry | Permalink | Comments (0) | More on California automobile emission waiver

The most dangerous and pernicious lie ever to be told is that "clean coal" [search] exists as a climate mitigation strategy. There are only a handful of working efforts that sequester carbon emissions from the oil industry, which troublingly allows more oil to be retrieved. And there have been a few tentative prototype efforts [ark] to bury and store coal plant emissions, but nothing of scale or production ready. Carbon emissions stored may not remain in place permanently, nor be done economically.

Yet on the basis of illusory, untested technologies that may or may not work, and companies and governments are unwilling to fund [ark], the coal industry amazingly portrays itself as green. Thus centuries of treating the atmosphere as a waste dump continues. Survival of the human species and their habitat requires that no new coal plants that emit into the atmosphere are built. And if an operable atmospheric system is to be maintained, existing polluting coal plants must be shut down as soon as possible.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry | Permalink | Comments (4) | More on clean coal myth

For seven years the Bush administration has used every tool at its disposal to obstruct efforts to address climate change [search]. Now this immoral do nothing climate policy is threatened by both a renewed national push by the Senate to reduce emissions through a trading system [ark | more2\ark2], and an united international community demanding the United States engage in post-Kyoto negotiations [ark] in Bali. Bush and other Republicans resist mandatory emission cuts on the basis of alleged economic costs and using the red herring that poor nations were not also required to cut emissions. The Bush cabal has lied about the science and obstructed national and international efforts to meaningfully cut greenhouse gas emissions. In pure ideological delay-tactics, Bush spokespersons assure us that the Senate action will not lead to Bush embracing an international program of emission cuts [ark]. What a dumb man that knows no shame.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry | Permalink | Comments (0) | More on Bush climate reduction