Vocal Voices

That our planet will see less than 400ppm CO2 in the atmosphere within the lifetime of anyone currently alive.

From 2017 onwards, that level will always be over 400ppm. That is a full 120ppm higher than the peak interglacials in the last few million years. It will continue to rise at approximately 2-2.5ppm per year for at least the next 15 years as the plan, now that pegging with the 1990 levels has failed miserably, will only lower emissions to around 1.5-2ppm per year. Which is a far cry from reduction.

Whatever happens now, unless we take a stance which reduces our emissions to 0 in the next two decades, our descendents will be dealing with a world which has 2* the interglacial CO2 of the last few million years.

Sobering thought... They guys at 350.org must be despondent.

I read a lot of comments in various places about the climate and one of the things people do not understand is this: A cubic metre of air can be raised a few degrees C quickly and easily, the same volume of water takes longer and more energy. The same can be said in reverse, air will dissipate heat quickly, water just keeps on giving and giving.

Multiply the process by trillions and peoples' heads go 'pop'!

The other week Obama was hailed as the planet's saviour when he promised to reduce America's CO2 levels by 32% of 2005 levels - a time of America's second highest peak. He would not go anywhere near 1990 levels as to do so would break the American and Global economies.

I am just reading about an Islamic declaration on climate change. It calls for an end to fossil fuel use and 100% commitment to renewable energy by 2050.

It is a bit light on the specifics about how any of it can be achieved or what will happen to the world's population, but there are some pertinent quotes coming out of it.

"People need to be told and politicians need to stop misleading their people, in telling them they can go on increasing their standards of living for ever and ever and ever,"

Rich countries have a "moral obligation to reduce consumption so that the poor may benefit from what is left of the Earth's non-renewable resources".

"We have to take this on, as the major issue affecting the whole of the human world."

I can see where the declaration is coming from as it chimes with many of my feelings on the subject - especially taking it into Mosques, schools and madrassas. One thing that worries me is the attitude of my children's generation and those who are following. The vast majority of them seem ignorant of the subject or not that bothered, yet it is they who will suffer.

This would be very good if it were not for the Islamic nations who are creating such massive population growth with >2 children per couple.

Also it is mainly Islamic countries producing the oil......

Finally to keep the wealth and living standard of Islamic people low means that they have a permanent reservoir of recruits from the poverty zone.

It is perfectly possible for the rest of the world to continue to increase their living standards. All they need to do is reduce their numbers and it will come as a natural consequence....

I, too, am somewhat discouraged by the mainly hedonistic "pursuit of happiness" that the generations below mine are following. They seem to believe that the implications of their own freedom must be paid for by future generations and that's just fine....

Also the first point you mentioned about air and water. 90% of all warming in the last century went into the sea first. Then it releases itself in 30 year cycles. The El Nino we see today is as a result of the warming stored by the planet in 1985. There has been a HUGE amount of warming since then all hidden in the oceans.

Ah well. Personal/family mitigation seems to be more in order as every day goes by.

This would be very good. if it were not for the Islamic nations who are creating such massive population growth with >2 children per couple.

Also it is mainly Islamic countries producing the oil......

Finally to keep the wealth and living standard of Islamic people low means that they have a permanent reservoir of recruits from the poverty zone.

Quite, but as in everywhere the minority rich will be in danger of becoming overrun by the poor majority. Maybe not now, but when things really get tough, as they will, the tide could and will turn. There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

My tip: Build an allotment in your garden, take up market gardening and learn how to preserve foods.

We have a large allotment (Potager), a year round Well (although I would need to make the water drinkable), hens and I will eventually get my Solar on the roof. Just as soon as Mrs S stops taking 120% of my home time.

Forewarned is forearmed is a very useful English phrase. Something the modern world seems to have replaced with "someone else will fix it".

Quite frankly, I don't give a damn. (Apologies to Gone With The Wind)

As long as we have this system called democracy, I don't think it matters which party gets in.

Democracy is just not capable of long-term planning for the future of the human race, and it
is plain that, without appropriate planning, the end of life, as we know it, is surely doomed.
The general population of this (probably most) countries today are far too preoccupied with
more mundane matters.

For me, on a personal level, I tend to share your view, Aggers.

However, I do worry for my children and future grandchildren. The sad thing is that they do seem more preoccupied with the present and how they will get on in life thinking that things will be much the same as they are now when they reach my age.

I keep telling them otherwise, and sometimes I get through - for a short while - then it is back to the status quo.

Workingman wrote:I keep telling them otherwise, and sometimes I get through - for a short while - then it is back to the status quo.

Frustrating isn't it. I know Wisdom comes with age, I clearly remember the process which is still ongoing. But do they have to be so blind??? If it was not for the immediacy of their current position I wouldn't care that much. But it is right here, right now and they are just blowing their time.

Ah well. A few more Sandy type storms or worse, an ice free arctic every summer and a few hurricanes up in Baffin bay and they may take notice. Of course by then it will be half past too late and the work they would need to do to cool the Oceans, forget the atmosphere, will be so far beyond what they want to do that I see very little future for them.

I'm hoping that before I exit this existence that I'll at least have the Grandkids convinced that the most important elective courses for them to take will be basic survival. First how to ensure survival. Second how to ensure someone doesn't come along and take it from them....

That's enough I've had a few beers and dwelling on it is not good tonight. On to better things, I'm going to feed my work colleagues decadant junk food from Marks tomorrow. That should be interesting... New job on Monday. Always a new challenge...

News coming from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that this July was the warmest global July on record. Our Met Office predicts that 2015 will also break global records for the hottest year.

These new peaks are happening more frequently, and in shorter periods, than thousands of years of climate records show.

The new data also shows that the seas in the Pacific and Indian oceans, which have been soaking up the heat for decades, are now starting to release it. The latest El Nino, a phenomenon driven by Pacific sea temperatures, is also set to break records.

Something is, and has, been driving these events and they are not natural cycles.

What on Earth could it possibly be?