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http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016
A call to action from Loretta Van Coppenolle to make a difference in Global Warming.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING !
On Monday, June 23, 2008, James Hansen was the guest of Diane Rehm on NPR.
The date marked the 20th anniversary of Hansen's first going before Congress
to say that global warming was largely human caused. The following are
notes taken from 6-23-08 interview.
Hansen says time has nearly run out to address global warming. We now have
385 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere; the amount was 280 ppm before the large
scale burning of coal, oil, and gas. We're already past the danger zone.
We have to go much lower than 385 ppm. Oil is already one-half used up;
it'll end up as CO2 in the atmosphere. The biggest fossil fuel is coal - If
we used coal only at power plants and sequestered the carbon, we would cap
at 400 ppm. We would then have to have an ambitious reforesting project.
We need to use biochar - charcoal - working it into the soil, to further
reduce CO2 by another 50 ppm.
It takes the oceans a long time to respond to CO2 in the atmosphere, meaning
that we're headed for more warming. It is important to understand that
global warming means both extremes of weather are engendered by warming -
excessive rain as well as drought, etc.
"We are close to some critical tipping points - We've reached one: The
Arctic sea ice - We'll lose all of it in the next 5-10 years." (exact quote
from Hansen) That's important because it'll make Greenland much more
vulnerable. We'll push off the planet those species that live at the
highest latitudes. A village in Alaska is suing Exxon and Duke Energy
because the village is sliding off into the sea.
A recent inquiry into allegations of meddling with science by NASA found
that the Public Affairs Office denied access to scientists and watered down
Hansen's reports. The inquiry found that higher ups were "mendacious" but
it did not find evidence of a direct connection to the White House. Read
Mark Bowen's book, Censoring Science, to learn about that
connection.
Sean O'Keefe, who was NASA Director from 2001 to 2005, told NASA scientists
that they couldn't link Arctic Sea ice melting to greenhouse gases. O'Keefe
has denied saying that. Mike Griffin, current director, said NASA employees
were free to report scientific data without censorship but Griffin is
himself a contrarian (Hansen's label for those who refuse to accept
human-caused global warming). "There's no question now that humans are the
principal drivers of climate change." (direct quote from Hansen)
Another direct quote: "Al Gore understands global warming better than any
politican I've met."
Oil industry profits are behind the conservative dismissal of global
warming. Hansen considers himself a moderate conservative (i.e., is no
flaming liberal).
Charles Krauthammer says that thousands of scientists disagree with global
warming and human causality. But, counters Hansen, the vast preponderance
of scientists and scientific bodies accept it as true. The contrarians pick
and choose their evidence and do not look at the whole body of it.
We are responsible for most of the excess of greenhouse gases. The U.S.
emits 3 times the greenhouse gases of the 2nd biggest contributor - China,
which surpassed us only 1 year.
Renewable energies will have to take over for fossil fuels. India, which
uses coal as its largest source of energy, can use solar. In the U.S. we
need a national no (low?) loss electric grid.
Diane Rehm asked Hansen about a recent Gardian for America article which
said Hansen was calling for criminal trials for energy utility executives
because they're guilty of crimes against humanity if they continue emitting
greenhose gases. Hansen acknowledged saying this and added that these
utilities need to become energy companies instead of just fossil-fuel
companies.
Hansen has met with some evangelical leaders. The majority of evangelicals
believe we have a responsibility for stewardship.
When Rehm asked Hansen what we as individuals could do, Hansen's reply was
"Influence politicians," especially at the national level. By next year
(with the change of regime) we have to make big decisions. "It's an
absolutely critical year." (direct quote from Hansen)