Comments on: The New Middle is Old and Should be Laid to Rest http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:16:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: CarlD http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2058 CarlD Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:30:20 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2058 What is so special about the "next decade" that we must act on global warming then? What happens if it's not for 11 years? What is so special about the “next decade” that we must act on global warming then? What happens if it’s not for 11 years?

]]> By: Kari http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2076 Kari Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:00:37 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2076 Already we have experienced a .8ºC rise in global temperatures. The level of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere is predicted to cause another .6ºC rise that cannot be prevented. With a 1.4ºC rise under our belt, continuing business as usual until 2015 will lock in an additional and eventual 1ºC rise. By not acting, in 2015 we will be looking to a 2.4ºC rise. When we reach an increase of 3ºC and meet 550 ppm of carbon dioxide equivalent (essentially double pre-industrial levels) in the atmosphere, we will trigger the likely irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet. Consequently, sea levels will rise 20 feet. Therefore, our actions in the next decade are a momentous factor in the survival of the Greenland ice sheet, one among an incalculable number of things that will suffer from global warming. If we don’t act in less than a decade, we are cutting it dangerously close to the outcome described above. One year may seem minor, but the truth is that every year that we do not use to our advantage will act against us. Already we have experienced a .8ºC rise in global temperatures. The level of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere is predicted to cause another .6ºC rise that cannot be prevented. With a 1.4ºC rise under our belt, continuing business as usual until 2015 will lock in an additional and eventual 1ºC rise. By not acting, in 2015 we will be looking to a 2.4ºC rise.

When we reach an increase of 3ºC and meet 550 ppm of carbon dioxide equivalent (essentially double pre-industrial levels) in the atmosphere, we will trigger the likely irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet. Consequently, sea levels will rise 20 feet.

Therefore, our actions in the next decade are a momentous factor in the survival of the Greenland ice sheet, one among an incalculable number of things that will suffer from global warming.

If we don’t act in less than a decade, we are cutting it dangerously close to the outcome described above. One year may seem minor, but the truth is that every year that we do not use to our advantage will act against us.

]]> By: readyforchange http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2084 readyforchange Sat, 06 Jan 2007 01:25:48 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2084 Let's see, over 70 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted by human activities into the atmosphere every year. So yes even one year could have quite an impact. Let’s see, over 70 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted by human activities into the atmosphere every year. So yes even one year could have quite an impact.

]]> By: Bloggingit.info » Consensus as the New Heresy http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2356 Bloggingit.info » Consensus as the New Heresy Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:18:21 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2007/01/04/the-new-middle-is-old-and-should-be-laid-to-rest/#comment-2356 [...] Further discussion on this piece is available: Matthew Nesbit, John Fleck, Roger Pielke Jr, David Roberts and Andrew Dessler. Also Joseph Romm. [...] […] Further discussion on this piece is available: Matthew Nesbit, John Fleck, Roger Pielke Jr, David Roberts and Andrew Dessler. Also Joseph Romm. […]

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