California climate researchers sound the alarm at symposium: ‘There’s no way out’

[GliderGuider]

California climate researchers sound the alarm at symposium: ‘There’s no way out’

A warming atmosphere has already worsened California’s drought and harmed coastal ecosystems, but the worst is yet to come, according to the latest scientific research presented this week on the interactions of air pollution, water reserves and weather patterns.

But researchers were less interested in sharing their data than in provoking political action — something they said they have failed to do because of poor communication with the general public.

“What we’re beginning to understand is that there’s no way out,” said Susanne Moser, a leading Santa Cruz-based climate change researcher. “We need transformational change. We don’t need more studies as much as we need to communicate the urgency and make solid changes. We need to not debate forever.

“It’s hot and it’s getting hotter. It’s not looking good. It’s not going to get a lot easier. We’re just beginning to understand the most catastrophic situations, and we’re starting to sound like TV evangelists in what we’re trying to say.”

Coastal areas and forests are of particular concern now because both face grave threats to their ecosystems, as dense forests and warmer temperatures collude to create bigger fires — which are large contributors to carbon emissions, and scientists warn of coastal flooding and mass fish and water-bird extinctions.

[4dsc]

1. Nothing will be done so get use to it

I hate reality but that report is correct. We has a nation will do nothing. This forum will do nothing. Its too late.

[GliderGuider]

2. Yes indeed. That's been my position for years now. Nada. Zilch. nt

[CrispyQ]

14. There is no political will to do anything except make money.

That is it. The sum of human existence is profit.

[OKIsItJustMe]

21. “The sum of human existence is profit.”

Is that the sum of your existence? It is not the sum of mine.

Am I a mutant? (I don’t think so.)

[CoffeeCat]

3. So, is this how it all ends?

When our generation is gone--the next generations will be wondering why in the hell we sat around and did nothing.

I've never felt so helpless in my life.

Even with 98 percent of climate scientists agreeing that climate change is real, is happening now and will doom our species--still, a few big energy companies get to dictate the end of humankind.

All for profits.

[chervilant]

4. Perhaps, when the global economy tanks

and sends shock waves throughout the planet, wide swaths of humanity will face imminent death (in urban areas, especially) and our technology-driven economy will be the least of our worries. If we see global economic collapse, it's unlikely that resources will be available for areas devastated by fire or flooding. Then, the corporate megalomaniacs will find that their obscene wealth is cold comfort (not to mention inedible).

[jtuck004]

11. I don't think the next generation will think of us at all. They will be busy surviving, and if we

weren't of any help when we could have been, why waste any more time with us?

[The2ndWheel]

12. Not ending, changing

Part of the issue is that we don't sit around and do nothing. We can't. We almost force ourselves to find ways to use energy in more and new ways, not to mention just the simple day to day activities of living.

Don't be so quick to blame a few big energy companies and their profits. That's kind of a cop out. On a smaller scale, but we've been doing it since probably before civilization even started. It's just what life does. If lions could put zebras on a farm and breed them to their specific qualifications, they probably would. If zebras could build walls and then go out and kill every lion they see, or put it safely in a zoo somewhere so it can't hurt them anymore, they probably would. We humans are just very successful at life.

Then you get into the whole cliché about our greatest strength being our greatest weakness. We like changing the environment. We don't like it when it doesn't change for our benefit obviously, but we have to take the good with the bad, which is what drives us crazy. Our whole idea of a fight against climate change is to find a way to do anything we want, with no consequences or cost. That's not at all like sitting around and doing nothing. It's more like trying to break physics.

[greenman3610]

5. there is hope

[hatrack]

7. This is TED, not hope.

It's not that technology can't make a difference - which, to "make a difference" would have to be truly substantial change.

It's that there is so vanishingly little time left for it to do so, falling solar panel prices and a light sprinkling of highly efficient $80,000 cars notwithstanding.

We passed the "substantial change" exit about 15 years ago.

[bvar22]

20. I agree.

We passed the "tipping point" a while back.
I don't see a Magic Answer.

We are already seeing the damage,
and sincerely pray that this is NOT the New Normal,
but fear that it is.

Our weather this year is wildly erratic.
We live rural and produce much of our own food.
To do so, we depend on our Planting Calendar.
We might as well throw that one away now.

Terrible growing year for us (West/Central Arkansas).
The peculiar aspect of this year is .... NO BUGS (besides our Honey Bee Colony which seems OK).
We have no flies, no mosquitoes, no gnats, no deer flies.... and absolutely NO Fire Ants this year...not a single mound.
You would think I would be happy about this, but instead it scares me.

When even the fucking Fire Ants get out of town something BAD is headed this way.

[hatrack]

6. Which should surprise . . . no one . . . .

I mean, it's been over 25 years since Hansen went to Capitol Hill to say, in effect, "It looks like we have a problem here."

What's changed since?

Well, most notably we've gone from 5.1 billion people to 7.2 billion people.

Most of what was left of Arctic sea ice is gone, and the Antarctic has been destabilized.

Marine acidification is moving rapidly.

There have been some on-point speeches, a few effective small-scale policy changes, and mountains of lies and bullshit.

We've had conference after conference after conference after conference after conference after conference after conference. The scientific ones have done some good, the political ones very little good.

Glittering, Shiny Consumer Life (tm), to which all humans must aspire, is now inescapable, thanks to the "miracle" of wireless technology and the "magic" of marketing. With the potential exception of a few wandering herdsman and fishing tribes, everyone now knows about cars and "lifestyles" and the Kardashians. Most will aspire in that direction.

And year after year after year, atmospheric carbon content has gone up. It has not changed, it will not change, and it is one of the very few measurements left that matters - predictability of its movement notwithstanding.

[GliderGuider]

13. Well said. nt

[Nihil]

23. That is an excellent summary of the situation (unfortunately). (n/t)

[Skwmom]

8. Why do you think they are so busy looking for an earth like planet?

I think we've already passed the tipping point. But what the heck, it can be used to get out the vote.

[Duppers]

16. We're not going to find an earth-like planet in time.

Besides, transporting Earth's population would be certainly impossible.

There is no plan B. Taking care of this planet would've been a hell of a lot more feasible.

[Enthusiast]

9. As long as the fossil fuel industry wields such power we will not be successful.

Just imagine, the oil industry is still subsidized! And we can rely on a number of Democrats and all Republicans voting against ending those subsidies. That is called corporate rule.

[turbinetree]

10. And the human race......................

wants to go and inhabit Mars and the Moon------------for basic greed, when the supposedly smartest species on the planet can't figure out or doesn't want to figure out do something about what we have here now, and what is going on right before our eyes now------its is truly amazing--------------it is just called unscrupulousness contempt, no principles.

And as we speak on this thread we have a oil rig getting ready to drill in the Arctic-----------what could possibly go wrong-----------a lot





Honk---------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[questionseverything]

18. it is like its a contest to see who can melt what fastest

White House says U.S. needs vessels in the hotly contested region to "maintain the open seas"

President Barack Obama will call for an expanded fleet of Arctic ice breakers on Tuesday, warning that the U.S. risked losing control of shipping routes, fishing grounds and pristine habitats if the Coast Guard does not strengthen its presence in the region.

The plan hastens the construction of a new Arctic ice breaker by two years and urges Congress to release “sufficient resources” to build still more vessels, the New York Times reports. The U.S. Coast Guard currently has a fleet of two active ice breakers, far fewer than Russia’s 41 vessels, with 11 more in the pipeline.

The rush to build new vessels comes amid an expansive thaw of Arctic ice, which have enabled nations to break new passageways through the region.

http://time.com/4018386/obama-arctic-ice-breakers/

[Javaman]

15. It ends with a hot whimper and not with a bang.

two generations from now, they will have a hard time believing there were glaciers, humans walked on the moon, and water was free for everyone.

[Duppers]

17. Yep, only two generations away.

And there are people still bragging about the number of grandkids they have without a clue to the world they'll be facing. Their blissful ignorance means terror for future generations.

[snagglepuss]

19. k and r

[OKIsItJustMe]

22. (For California)

…

Without action, researchers said, Californians will see greater droughts, floods, more intense storms, increasingly severe wildfires and permanent forest loss, and continually depleted groundwater reserves necessary for future drinking water supplies, among other major environmental shifts. This dire future picture comes at a time when the state is poised to accept another 11.5 million residents in the next 30 years, bringing the population to 50 million and taxing public services.

…