Scientists urge drastic action at Copenhagen summit meetLeading climate scientists issued a grim diagnosis for the planet, along with a stern warning for world leaders.
Vancouver Sun: The upcoming round of climate talks in Sweden will have 'profound' consequences for human civilization and the planet's ecosystems, the scientists say in their report, The Copenhagen Diagnosis... It's 'imperative' that world leaders commit to a legally binding treaty to reduce emissions, says co-author Andrew Weaver, a climatologist at the University of Victoria. Otherwise, he says, the world can 'kiss goodbye' hope of holding global warming to two degrees Celsius this century, which is seen as tolerable.
Citing evidence from the Arctic to the Amazon, the report says climate change is occurring faster than expected and urgent emissions reductions are required. If emissions are allowed to continue soaring 'business as usual,' the report estimates global mean temperatures will climb four to seven degrees Celsius by 2100, 'locking in climate change at a scale that would profoundly and adversely affect all of human civilization and all of the world's major ecosystems.'...
The area of summer sea-ice melt during 2007-9 was about 40 per cent greater than the average projection by the IPCC. Sea level rise is also climbing and has risen five centimetres over the past 15 years, about 80 per cent higher than expected... In 2008, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels were about 40 per cent higher than in 1990... 'The turning point must come soon,' say the scientists... 'To stabilize climate, a decarbonized global society -- with near-zero emissions of C02 and other long-lived greenhouses gases -- needs to be reached well within this century.'
Despite more than two decades of political promises to reduce emissions, Canada's greenhouse emissions remain on a 'significant' growth trajectory, according to the latest greenhouse-gas inventory from Environment Canada. After a slight dip in 2004-06, Canada's total emissions took off again in 2007, thanks largely to Alberta's oilsands, an increase in the number of vehicles on the road, and greater reliance on coal-fired electricity... The country's emissions are now 33.8 per cent above Canada's Kyoto commitment...
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is committed to reducing emissions but critics say the Conservative government has been blocking progress at climate change talks. 'Canada has zero credibility internationally.' says Weaver.
