New report set to rock the climate change denier camp: science as settled as it gets

In my community of people who care immensely about the stability of our atmosphere… and thus biosphere… and thus human civilization, it sometimes is forgotten that there are a number of people who still have trouble grappling with this issue.

This week, as usual, my colleagues and I were considering various aspects of the climate system and how BC’s land base, economy and population could possibly adjust to reduce or remove carbon in the atmosphere (we have legislated targets to meet in BC). And then a fact was stated that shook even us: permafrost now contains 1,700 billion tonnes of carbon, or twice the amount now in the atmosphere… and it’s melting. And if we don’t reverse our emissions trend, like tomorrow, it will continue to melt faster.

I often hear the words “game over” during such revelations.  Unfortunately, we have them more often than we’d like… Sometimes even the experts need reminding of how important it is we do all we can, and then lead others to do the same.

On the other side, we’re lucky in BC to generally have a public mindset that enables our political leadership to take action. However, we still don’t see 100% of British Columbian’s REALLY sure that this problem warrants the challenge of tackling it, which will include making uncomfortable changes at times.

I can talk all I want about what I know and why it matters…. but if a person has doubt about whether my expertise is agreed upon by other scientists, I may as well be a pollster.

So here it is:

And why does this mater so much? How about a good ole short film to help us understand:

Related articles

• Pseudosceptics are at it again – misrepresenting and attacking climate scientists (openparachute.wordpress.com)

Rising seas will leave their mark. Here’s a preview.

Artistic commentary on life has been an effective means for generating dialogue and spurring change for centuries.

Initiatives like this one make a statement, but they also help people to visualize the future. In our case, the future is to be avoided, at least at the rate we are going. That is, unless, you prefer your favorite shopping district underwater…

Reality Drop: Spread Science about Climate Change, Global Warming

Reality Drop: Spread Science about Climate Change, Global Warming.

YES. YES. YES.

I have saved this to my desktop.

Introducing Reality Drop from Climate Reality on Vimeo.

First Solar and SunPower Surge After Receiving “Buy” Rating From CitiGroup

I’m not well versed in the stock market. I have principles that disagree with the whole structure of it. Not that investments are bad – but distant, “I just want a profit” dollar placement is wrought with ethical dilemma.

And then there is speculation. I was click-happy and stumbled upon “market news” relating to solar. The news was good for some companies, and clearly, investors will react to that.

I’m happy to see support for solar technology companies. But “solar” is just on the surface. And with the emotionally charged issue of energy, I expect rash and shortsighted decisions are more frequent than is healthy.

What I have learned is that the energy landscape is terribly complex. Terribly.

Still, I aspire to have panels on my roof someday. I hope this market news is balanced.

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/first-solar-and-sunpower-surge-after-receiving-buy-rating-from-citigroup-nasdaq-fslr-1756245.htm

HB

Chris Hedges conveys The Myth of Human Progress – I digress.

Chris Hedges: The Myth of Human Progress – Via Truthdig.

And I thought I was a downer. At least, that’s what my friends and family who are often in denial/ignorance over this subject might suggest.

But downer as I may be… the thinking that we will reach the “brink” sooner than we once thought appears more realistic with each passing moment.

Hello? Hello!? Reality? Are you there?

The truth is, reality is within. It is neither here nor there.

Each one of us seeks it only to the degree to which we feel comfortable operating in it. For most, the seeking stops prematurely. We have systems, experts, norms and a big, complex society and authorities of various shapes, sizes and colours that “inform us.”

Trust  in these “informants” varies and is rarely whole-hearted, but so long as we can piece together a reasonable existence, the reality we perceive for ourselves is complete enough.

Our existence becomes unreasonable when sufficient discord strikes: “oops, the informants were wrong.” And now our perception of what is real and pertinent must be re-evaluated, and our part in it adjusted.

Behaviour change experts might call this “tension.”  A motivator for helping people to seek new ways of being in reality that are effective and produce desired benefits.

So as the wind outside my window howls loudly, and for unusually longer than normal, I wonder: is my placement of garbage bins and gardening supplies at my home reasonable for this new reality? Or should I have adjusted before leaving the house this morning?

It might be too late…

If you are not keen to read the entire article I reference above, here is the crux:

“We have to readjust our entire civilization to live in a finite world. But we are not doing it, because we are carrying far too much baggage, too many mythical versions of deliberately distorted history and a deeply ingrained feeling that what being modern is all about is having more. This is what anthropologists call an ideological pathology, a self-destructive belief that causes societies to crash and burn. These societies go on doing things that are really stupid because they can’t change their way of thinking. And that is where we are.” – Ronald Wright, author of  A Short History of Progress

Are you questioning your reality? I hope you are.

Not surprising: China pushes forward with carbon tax plans

China pushes forward with carbon tax plans – 21 Feb 2013 – News from BusinessGreen.

I’m not surprised, because China proves all the time that they do not suffer from political constipation. They make decisions. They move forward.

Of course, this also has its drawbacks at times (i.e. when the balance of power is negligent), but when it comes to recognizing a problem (e.g. carbon emissions, hasty resource development) they get on with solving it… rather than worrying about who gets the credit.

Carbon taxation isn’t the only measure they’ve implemented: China is also using a form of insurance to ensure heavily polluting industries adequately provide compensation for damages.

All this to say, the US and other nations on the verge of considering such measures are feeling the pressure… to not be lame laggards.

via Not surprising: China pushes forward with carbon tax plans.

Thank you Sandy. Thank you Obama. Thank you Jacobson.

I really only have gratitude at the moment. When it all sinks in, I’ll probably come up with something more profound.

Let’s be fair to those who are responsible for making Canadians happy: it isn’t easy. That is probably the extent of it… yes there are a diversity of beliefs and priorities, and sometimes they conflict. But that is what they signed up for: a difficult job, in the most difficult century we may yet know as a species. 

Canada has an ally in the United States. As a trading partner, among other things. So, as we all work towards transitioning our society to be low carbon and resilient towards climate change, what happens in the US (at times) will signal eventual spillover into our communities. Not to mention the fact that the Government of Canada has been explicit in its approach to align policies and approaches to climate change mitigation with the US.

So thank you, United States of America. Thank you for making it easier for the Canadians holding the levers on climate action. Thank you for sharing your stories of tragedy in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and recognizing it as a harbinger of tribulation. Thank you for leading your citizens and hopefully the world, as you usually do, this time in a direction we desperately need to go.

And finally, thank you, US Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, for spelling this out to Canada. You’ve made our job easier.

Obama’s climate change challenge meant for Canada’s ears: ambassador

Heather Scoffield and Mike Blanchfield,  Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:55 PM

 

U.S. ambassador to Canada David Jacobson delivers a speech on the impact of the U.S. election on Canadian-American relations, Tuesday, December 4, 2012 in Montreal. The U.S. ambassador to Canada says President Barack Obama’s State of the Union message to act swiftly on climate change should be interpreted as a challenge to Ottawa as well. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

 

 OTTAWA – President Barack Obama’s State of the Union message to act swiftly on climate change should be interpreted as a challenge to Ottawa as well, says the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

Obama used Tuesday’s speech to present Congress with a choice: either agree to market-based solutions to climate change, or else the president will use his executive powers to achieve the same result.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Ambassador David Jacobson said the message to move more aggressively against climate change was meant as much for Canada as it was for the United States.

“We all need to do as much as we can. And that is true in your country and in mine,” Jacobson said.

“Obviously the more that the energy industry – whether it is the oilsands in Canada or the energy industry in the United States, or any place else – the more progress they can make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce their consumption of water, to other environmental consequences, the better off we all are.”

Read more on Global News: Global Edmonton | Obama’s climate change challenge meant for Canada’s ears: ambassador