"Scientist believes the world has just 20 years to turn the tide on global

[GreenPartyVoter]

<snip>

Flannery's projection is based on the period he says it will take - at current emissions levels - to pump out enough carbon dioxide to warm the globe by around two degrees, producing "catastrophic" climate change.

<snip>

Earlier this week, James Connaughton, Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the partnership would drum up more private investment for goals including U.S. and Chinese plans to improve energy efficiency in coal-burning power plants and cut acid rain-causing sulfur dioxide emissions.

"I'd say that's wonderful news - and how will it be done?" said Flannery, responding to Connaughton's remarks.

Flannery said there is "no evidence in the world today" that a voluntary program to reduce greenhouse emissions could work. Only government regulation or "market-based instruments" - such as carbon taxes, incentives and government subsidies on green energy - would have the necessary impact, he said.

<snip>

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20060107/D8EVIRSG0.html

[ingac70]

1. We can't turn the tide....

We could slow it, since the warming process has sped up because of us, but global warming is a natural, unavoidable process.

[G_j]

2. just sped up?

How do know it wasn't triggered by human activity?

[ingac70]

4. Because the world has been warming since the end of the last Ice Age

Human activity has sped it up, not triggered it.

[Lindacooks]

7. And human activity has pushed it past the tipping point

according to many scientists. And it's too late to do anything about it.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0811-03.htm

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change

I think this article is overly optimistic, given the changes in the polar ice caps, Alaskan permafrost, and warm oceans.

[bananas]

10. Oh really?

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Yes

And it's quite scary.

[Tace]

3. I'm Very Sorry To Say That I Think It's Already Much Too Late

I'm not a professional scientist. But, my take, after extensive reading about the issue, is that we're past the tipping point. It appears that "feedback" effects already have begun in the arctic tundra, for one. We're also seeing a weakening of the gulfstream, the result of the melting of the Greenland icecap.

I think this also explains the "so what" attitude of our government. I think Bushco figures it's a lost cause, and are preparing for dramatic climate change, with the upheaval and widespread human die-off it will bring.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. I doubt ** is preparing for dramatic climate change, He never prepares for

anything.

I did read online something about the Pentagon preparing for changes though, so someone in the gov't is thinking about what may come.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. And apparently they

have prepared. Cheney's house has solar power and apparently so does Bush's place in Texas. They're all prepared but not us.

[proud patriot]

6. I pray everyday that there is still time

I hope those scientist are correct and that we
still have a chance .