Climate change is an urgent emergency. Leading climate scientist James Hansen [search] now warns of humanity's "last chance" [ark] to take the necessary dramatic actions to solve the climate crisis. The scientist who first brought global warming to the public's awareness 20 years ago this week has now concluded we are well past dangerous levels of greenhouse gas emissions [search] (with no end in sight), and this is going to cause ecosystem collapse and mass extinction. EI is in agreement that this can only be avoided with urgent actions such as ending coal emissions, and that fossil fuel executives are guilty of crimes against humanity and nature [ark].

Alone, and most assuredly in combination with related global environmental crises, global heating and the breakdown in climate patterns threatens civilization, the global ecosystem and the continuation of complex life. This is not conjecture. It is logical consequences of known science and observable trends. Some in the United States government have concluded similarly, that climate change threatens national security [search] and "could destabilize 'struggling and poor' countries around the world, prompting mass migrations and creating breeding grounds for terrorists [ark]." Meanwhile the White House refuses to open emails [ark] from its own EPA regarding the need to regulate carbon dioxide.

Uber-economist and anti-povery crusader Jeffrey Saches believes climate change tragedy could be averted for 1% of global income [ark] a year (a bit low I think, but agree basically it is a great cheap deal). How myopic and deeply self-absorbed humanity is with itself. So where is the urgency? Where is the sacrifice? We know we must tax carbon [search], end the use of fossil fuels by converting to renewables, and conserve energy. So why don't we do it? Are we so hooked on fossil fuels that homo sapiens will march lemming like to the end of our being taking most or even all of creation with us?

Ecological Internet expects to partake soon in organizing action to resist all new and existing coal plants that emit ito the atmosphere. Join and support us.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry | Permalink | Comments (10) | More on urgent climate action

Just back from a short blogging break, to find the climate crisis never rests. Scientists and policy-makers have finally caught up with ecology as the link between climate change and extreme weather [ark | more\ark | search] -- such as the recent flooding and tornadoes in the U.S. -- has been reaffirmed. The only surprise is the new report was released and endorsed by the Bush administration, whose climate obstruction over the past decade has bordered upon criminality. To issue such a serious report after a decade of inaction is unconscionable, and can only be forgiven if the administration swings into real climate change policy action now.

Posted by Dr. Glen Barry | Permalink | Comments (3) | More on climate change extreme weather