It's 50 years since climate change was first seen. Now time is running out

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/15/50-years-climate-change-denial
<snip>

Fifty years ago, the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) delivered a report titled Sources, Abundance, and Fate of Gaseous Atmospheric Polluters to the American Petroleum Institute (API), a trade association for the fossil fuel industry.

The report, unearthed by researchers at the Center for International Environmental Law, is one of the earliest attempts by the industry to grapple with the impacts of rising CO2 levels, which Stanford’s researchers warned if left unabated “could bring about climatic changes” like temperature increases, melting of ice caps and sea level rise.

The year was 1968, and the term “global warming” would not appear in a peer-reviewed academic journal until 1975. Famed Nasa scientist James Hansen would not testify before Congress that “global warming has begun” for another 20 years. And the US would not enter into – only to later pull out of – the Paris climate accord for nearly half a century.

The anniversary of SRI’s report to the API on climate change represents not just a damning piece of evidence of what the fossil fuel industry knew and when, but a signal of all that we have lost over the decades of policy inaction and interference. It should also serve as a potent motivator in the fight for climate accountability and justice.

[ffr]

1. Hate to be such a pessimist, but time has run out.

We needed strong leadership, but it is a human trait to want to take the easy path outlined by politicians who lie to get elected. Thus, tRump, one of the biggest story tellers of all time. But even before that, we needed to take decisive action, probably 25 years ago.

So enjoy the ride as we continue to increase the planet's human population, increase the levels of green house gases we spew out into our environment and watch as we let natural selection decide for us who lives and who dies. The future does not look bright.

[SamKnause]

2. Time has ran out.

[Laxman]

3. So Long....

and thanks for all the fish. Not to put too depressing a spin on this but we're basically screwed. And I don't even live on an island like you do. If....we were somehow able to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions tomorrow to levels that would cease to impact the climate, we have already charged the atmosphere with enough contaminants to continue to alter the climate for the next 100-200 years. We can't support the infrastructure we have in place let alone find a way to alter and remake our footprint in areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise. We can't deal with the social disruption that climate change related drought and famine have already brought to our doorstep. What will we do as a species when the combination of loss of land to sea level rise, disruptions in precipitation patterns, alterations in the ability to produce crops and other life altering effects start to take hold? When population migrations are measured in the millions, tens of millions or even hundreds of millions instead of the tens of thousands as they are now, will we have it in us to provide assistance or solutions for the people who are impacted? I'm not very optimistic about the nature of human beings to overcome challenges of that nature right now. Especially when the US, the country that both has the resources to help the most and that is having the most impact on the climate, chooses to ignore this reality. I've said this before-How high do you need to build a wall to isolate yourself from the problems of 7 billion of your fellow humans? It's a trick question. You can't build it high enough.

[ffr]

4. +1 This.

Humans need to device a vehicle that is cheaper than any standard internal combustion engine that turns carbon dioxide in the air and oceans to oxygen. Some form of other mass global device might work as well.

We not only need to stop or reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and oceans, but actually consume their chemical makeup to convert it into oxygen. Anything less than that and our unsustainable ways will bring our reign over Earth to a very disappointing end.