Updated:2007-02-02 22:46:27
Report Blames Global Warming on Humans
Scientists Say Hotter Temperatures to Continue
PARIS (Feb. 2) - Global warming is so severe that it will "continue for centuries," leading to a far different planet in 100 years, warned a grim landmark report from the world's leading climate scientists and government officials.
"It's later than we think," said panel co-chair Susan Solomon, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist who helped push through the document's strong language. The Heat Is On
Global warming is "very likely" caused by man, meaning more than 90 percent certain. That's the strongest expression of certainty to date from the panel.
If nothing is done to change current emissions patterns of greenhouse gases, global temperature could increase as much as 11 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100.
Sea levels are projected to rise 7 to 23 inches by the end of the century. Add another 4 to 8 inches if recent, surprising melting of polar ice sheets continues.
Sea level rise could get worse after that. By 2100, if nothing is done to curb emissions, the melting of Greenland's ice sheet would be inevitable and the world's seas would eventually rise by more than 20 feet.
"We are on the historic threshold of the irreversible," warned French President Jacques Chirac, who called for an economic and political "revolution" to save the planet.
"While climate changes run like a rabbit, world politics move like a snail: Either we accelerate or we risk a disaster," said Italy's environment minister, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio.
And South Africa's Environmental Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said failure to act would be "indefensible."
In Washington, Bush administration officials praised the report .
But doing nothing about global warming could mean up to a 10-degree Fahrenheit temperature rise by the end of the century in the United States, said report co-author Jonathan Overpeck at the University of Arizona.
Temperatures would spike higher near the poles, according to the report. Within 22 years - whether greenhouse gases are controlled or not - most of the Northern Hemisphere will see more high temperature extremes, the report showed. Places like Northern Africa will get even less rainfall.
This climate change "is just not something you can stop," said Trenberth. "We're just going to have to live with it. If you were to come up back in 100 years time, we'll have a different climate."
People experience the harshest effects of global warming through extreme weather - heat waves, droughts, floods, and hurricanes - said study co-author Philip Jones of Britain's University of East Anglia. Those have increased significantly in the past decade and will get even worse in the future, he said.
United Nations environmental leaders are talking about a global summit on climate change for world leaders
"The signal that we received from the science is crystal clear," said Yvo de Boer, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a multi-national body that tries to change policy to fight global warming.
"That makes it imperative that the political response that comes from this crystal-clear science is as crystal-clear as well.
"I sense a growing sense of urgency to come to grips with the issue," de Boer said. "I think the major challenge is to further the negotiating agenda in a way that makes major players feel safe to step forwardly on this issue."
Citing congressional interest and carbon dioxide emission limits requested by top industry CEOs, de Boer said: "I see a very important momentum building throughout the country."
Кратко суть:
Опубликован в Париже "Доклад" конференции ведущих ученых мира :
Глобальное потепление - на 90% дело рук человека за последние 50 лет.
Температута на земле за последние годы заметно возросла . К 2100 г средняя температура на земле поднимется в среднем на 11 градусов, уровень океанов поднимется на 20 футов, будут затоплены многие большие участки суши, , будут растоплен лед в Арктике и Антарктике, в экваториальных странах будет засуха, в более северных и южных -ливни и ураганы, изменится флора и фауна - вся жизнь на земле. Погибнет масса людей . Эти катаклизмы произойдут / может быть чуть в более мягкой форме / даже если человек сегодня прекратит загрязнение окружающей среды , как следствие уже произошедших изменений в атмосфере, восстановление которых требует столетий. Если загрязнение будет продолжаться - это угроза самому существованию человечества на земле
"Мы стоим на историческом пороге необратимого" заявил Жак Ширак
Основной путь замедлить катастрофу , а может быть как то даже предотвратить ее страшные последствия - быстро отказаться от современных видов топлива / прежде всего нефти и газа / , перейти на другие виды получения энергии.
Это возможно / http://www.megapolis.org/forum/viewtopi ... 9&start=20 /, но повлечет за собой огромные геополитические последствия - рост значения передовых в техническом отношении стран, полный упадок всех стран , живущих за счет нефти и газа.