Bush aide says warming man-made

[TechBear_Seattle]

Source: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Professor John Marburger, who advises President Bush, said it is more than 90% certain that greenhouse gas emissions from mankind are to blame.

The Earth may become "unliveable" without cuts in CO2 output, he said, but labelled targets for curbing temperature rise as "arbitrary".

His comments come shortly before major meetings on climate change at the UN and the Washington White House.

There may still be some members of the White House team who are not completely convinced about climate change - but it is clear that the science advisor to the President and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is not one of them.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6994760.stm

---

At least SOMEBODY in the Junta is paying attention. :eyes:

[Vidar]

1. Sayonara Professor. You're too smart & honest for that bunch.

[thereismore]

2. Like I care. nt

[Eugene]

3. BUT...

Climate change is for real, but let's not do something rash
like setting firm goals. While the Bushies can no longer deny
the facts, they and their masters at Big Oil still try to
downplay the need for urgent action.

Aspirational targets, that's the ticket!

[mainer]

4. My good friend was one of the WH science advisors...

And he said it was a hopeless cause. He was disgusted.

[aggiesal]

5. This guy will be fired within a week. ...

How dare his analysis, go against the administration policy.

[Donkeykick]

9. If the story hits the MSM,

then yes, he will get fired. Meanwhile they will try to get him to see the light.:eyes:

[Orsino]

6. So 10% of the science is still out?

That should be good for another couple of decades of delay.

[Lorien]

7. That's a big ol' "no shit Sherlock"

all this foot dragging from our political "leaders" have lead us to a point where we may be powerless to stop the planet from becoming unlivable, but we still need to do all we can, and NOW.

In the meantime; drive less, put in compact florescent light bulbs, bring your own bag, and cut beef and pork out of your diet (if you really want red meat, try buffalo; it's eco-friendly, heart friendly, and there's little chance that it will be involved in a mad cow pandemic in the future).

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

8. This just in

Professor John Marburger unexpectedly submitted his resignation today. He cited wanting to spend more time with his family and the need to replenish the 'ole coffers.

[Deja Q]

10. Or at least an increase in devices that will convert CO2 to O2...

Photosynthesis. Growing more trees, protecting them, and making an analogue to the photosynthesis process seem to be a reasonable starting point?

[Lisa]

11. uh -- Dr. Marburger -- you can't have it both ways!

While I'm glad that he's "come out" a bit on this issue, there is actually quite a bit of scientific agreement on atmospheric CO2 levels and the corresponding emission targets.

So while he's getting the advantage of being seen onside with vast majority of scientists studying this issue, who identify anthropogenic emissions as the primary cause of global warming .... he's still insisting that the recommended targets are "arbitrary" (even though he states that the planet may become "unliveable" unless we cut back).

Scientists have been saying for a couple of years now that we need to keep the temperature change to less than 3 degrees Centigrade (better yet, 2 degrees, because 3 is likely over the threshold for melting the Greenland ice cap).
http://www.stabilisation2005.com/Steering_Commitee_Report.pdf

And working backwards from that number, we would need to cap atmospheric CO2 at 400 ppm.

The IPCC science, impacts, and mitigation reports are all online now:
http://www.ipcc.ch/