UCS Projections For MA By 2100 - Drought, Parts Of Boston Underwater, No Lobster, Skiing

[hatrack]

In 100 years Massachusetts residents will all be living in South Carolina. They will face drought every two years, lots of heat waves and there will be no winter recreation, fishing or lobster. That is the snapshot the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) gave last week of the commonwealth if greenhouse gas emissions stay at the current rate.

But the union's report on climate change in the Northeast, which has the seventh highest carbon emissions in the world, wasn't all bad news. “The situation is far from hopeless and we are far from helpless,” Union President Kevin Knobloch said at a press conference on the New England Aquarium pier.

Knobloch and three of the 50 scientists who collaborated on the report cited the increasing use of hybrid cars, wind power and green buildings as the most effective ways to put Massachusetts on a lower emissions path. The most optimistic scenario would require the United States and other developed nations to reduce emissions 80 percent below 2000 levels by 2050. Environment and Energy Secretary Ian Bowles said the decrease is feasible in Massachusetts, but it won’t happen immediately.

EDIT

http://www.townonline.com/lexington/homepage/x53162062

[meegbear]

1. The fruit of my loin in South Carolina?!?1!

Damn you Global Warming!!

[glowing]

2. WTF... Global warming isn't quartered off by state... if only Mass.

becomes completely green, they won't effect the total amount... WTF are they smoking?

[hatrack]

3. I'm sure they're aware of that. I'm sure they also know that it has to start somewhere.

And, as it's unlikely to start in, say, South Carolina or Texas, let it be the Bay State.

[glowing]

5. Actually, when I lived in SC, there were many who were aware of

keeping things more natural.. especially farmers, fishers, and red neck types... they just didn't have the means to fight the big shots who would rather golf and enjoy some southern hospitality. Most people who live in an area they call home don't want to see it turn into over-sprawl and congestion.

[kestrel91316]

7. They recognize the fundamental truth of this:

You are either part of the problem, or part of the solution.

They are choosing to be part of the solution. If you want to throw up your hands and give up because you can't personally solve 100% of the problem, I can't stop you.

[bananas]

8. They have seperate reports for each state in the northeast

http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/global-warming-to-hit-0044.html
July 11, 2007

Global Warming Will Hit U.S. Northeast Hard Unless Action Taken Now;
Long-term Severity Depends On Near-term Choices, Scientists Say

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (July 11, 2007)—If heat-trapping emissions are not significantly curtailed, global warming will substantially change critical aspects of the Northeast's character and economy, according to a new report by the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA), a two-year collaboration between the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and a team of more than 50 scientists and economists. Near-term choices about energy, transportation, and land-use will largely determine the extent and severity of climate change.
<snip>


http://www.climatechoices.org/ne/resources_ne/nereport.html

Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast: Science, Impacts, and Solutions (PDF): A report of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA), July 2007

State summaries: UCS-produced fact sheets based on Confronting Climate Change in the U.S Northeast: Science, Impacts, and Solutions

Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

[donsu]

4. way before 2100

ice melts faster and faster under heat

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Probly not looking too good for my dear sweet Maine, either

[NNadir]

9. Wow. Talk about a self fulfilling projection.

The Union of Concerned "Scientists" has been a world leader at seeing to it that climate change is as bad as is possible.

Only Greenpeace has done more to make climate change happen.