The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change comprises climate scientists and they have recently reported. Its reports are the distillation of the research of thousands of scientists and sixth hundred of them from 113 countries (including the United States) go through its report line by line to ensure that they publish scientific consensus, and not blind beliefs and prejudices.
Their report has three major changes from previous reports. The scientists are sure that climate change is happening rapidly; that is no longer a matter of probability. Climate change is of a scale that is likely to give rise to irreversible events, including the extinction of many species, and finally it is 90% probable that climate change is caused by humans. Previously the panel thought the probability was “only” 85%, as I have reported in this blog earlier.
Today autumn seems to have finally arrived, with cold biting winds. More than half of the leaves from the deciduous trees have fallen and I have not seen a wasp for two days.
Filed under: climate change, seasons | Tagged: , climate change, IPCC, irreversible, loss of species, probability
Ryan
The pre statement publicity indicates that Gordon Brown has fought against almost everyone in the civil service to uphold the UK’s committment to provide 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020. This would be a whole energy committment, not an electricity commitment so by including heat and renewable heat, like Genersys solar collectors , he will make the target easier to achieve.
We will know in a few hours. Any bets on a clear, unequivocal anvironmentally friendly policy that will actually be pursued?
Dear Robert
Our media are reporting that Gordon Brown will be making a statement today about the fight against global warming including the alleviation of poverty in the developing world. Given the values being attached to cabon credits in the articles I have read, does the trade in carbon credits not provide the developed world with a mechanism to provide developing countries with much needed funding. This open market trade will force the developing world to implement environmentally conscious policies and solutions to enable the generating of tradeable carbon credits. What sre your thoughts?