Posted on 09/20/2007 11:48:40 AM PDT by pabianice
SYDNEY (AFP) — Global warming is occurring at a faster rate than the worst-case scenario envisaged by experts just six years ago, Australia's top climate change scientist said Thursday.
Tim Flannery, named the 2007 Australian of the Year for his work in alerting the public to the dangers of global warming, said the issue was the greatest challenge facing humanity in the 21st century.
Flannery said predictions in a 2001 UN report, warning the atmosphere was likely to warm by 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius (2.5-10.4 Fahrenheit) from 1990 to 2100 now appeared conservative.
"In the six years since then, we've collected enough data to (check) whether those projections are valid or not," he said.
"It turns out they're not valid, but in the most horrible way -- because for the key performance indicators about climate, change is occurring far in advance of the worst-case scenario," he said.
"Carbon dioxide's increasing more rapidly, sea levels are rising more rapidly (and) the Arctic ice cap is melting away more quickly than were projected in 2001."
Flannery said the world needed an international organisation similar to the United Nations dedicated solely to climate change.
"The 21st century is going to be about environmental limits," he said.
"There's six billion of us on the planet, there will soon be nine billion, the atmosphere is tiny as a pollution receptacle, clearly that's going to be where the action is.
"But we haven't yet built the structures, the new version of the UN that helps us deal with the global pollution crisis as a species."
Flannery said nations needed to "de-carbonise" their economies by 2050, increasing reliance on geo-thermal, nuclear and renewable energy.
That’s it!
I’m moving to Mars! Who’s with me?
Well, at least he considers nuclear power an alternative.
Meanwhile this morning it was 42 degrees at our house in LA County (mountains).
Yeah, that'll fix it! The UN does so well...............
Named by whom?
Does this factor in the recently discovered Y2K errors in NASA’s temperature data? I’m guessing no.
By Algores Book. You know that Nobel winner or almost ran.
OK....everyone....hold your breath!
He’s way wrong here. Econutjobs have been projecting the complete melting of the Antarctic Ice Cap by 2030 for nearly 30 years now, and nothing of the sort has even begun to happen.
I can’t wait until they retire the salt trucks in my area!
Sorry FRiend,
Last report was that Mars is in the midst of global warming also.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_ice-age_031208.html
Mars is warming too!
About a year ago AlGore gave us only about 10 years to begin massive global transfers of wealth (buying his carbon credits) to third world countries or global warming would consume us.
Now it's much, much worse, I guess it's now already too late, so live it up!
Professor Timothy Fridtjof Flannery (born 28 January 1956) is an Australian mammologist, palaeontologist and global warming activist. Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007 and presently an adjunct professor at Macquarie University. His controversial views on shutting down conventional coal burning for electricity in the medium term are frequently cited in the media.
The Australian of the Year Awards commenced in 1960. From nominations received, Australia Day Committees in each state and territory select several finalists and recipients for their respective state and territory Australian of the Year Awards. These recipients are announced at functions in November and December each year, and from these, the National Australia Day Council Board selects the recipients in each national award category.
The national awards are announced on the eve of, and presented on, Australia Day (January 26) each year.
The Australian of the Year Awards recognise and reward those Australians who have a consistent record of excellence, who have made outstanding achievements in their field, and contributed in a significant way to the nation.
Sounds like a poularity contest.
I’ll do the cooking if you clean the bathroom!
From what I've heard, sea levels aren't rising at all.
If anybody has any data on actual sea level changes, as opposed to projected ones, I'd like to see it.
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