| Step away from the abyss | | Print | |
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If you're teetering on the edge of gloomy gulch, skip this week's news or you may be tempted to jump. Climate scientists including Dr James Hansen (Director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NASA) have published a paper warning that CO2 reduction targets are not nearly stringent enough. According to the Guardian, Mr Hansen says major cuts are needed if "humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilisation developed". Not reducing emissions could mean a sea level rise of 75 metres, Hansen told the Guardian. And it's blinking freezing again, which gees up climate change sceptics for another round of "Global warming? What global warming?"
Are you on tenterhooks waiting for a silver lining? Here it is. Hansen claims that fossil fuels will run out much sooner than anticipated, so alternative energy will have to become the norm. Top news, but in the meantime? Gas heading up to $15 a gallon/petrol at £20 a litre. Still not smiling? How about predicted
 energy wars, as countries and individuals scrap it out over resources such as the last remaining drops of black gold?Hey, a potential bright spot: the experts suggest a moratorium on coal power stations could significantly lower CO2 levels. Unfortunately the UK government is ignoring this advice and plans a new host of coal power stations, with 'clean coal' ie CCS (carbon capture and storage) still a distant prospect. So if you're wringing your hands and in desperate need of despair repair, check out this week's Website of the Week, WeCanSolveIt.org, an optimistic title for an optimistic site from an optimistic man, Al Gore.
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