IPCC Final Report: We’ve Blown Two-Thirds of Our Carbon Budget

GR:  Another perspective on the IPCC final report.  “Given the massive wealth and political power of a fossil fuel industry intent upon preserving its $27 trillion stock value, it’s no wonder that the dire messages on climate change given by the Nobel prize-winning IPCC, a volunteer organization with almost no PR budget, are drowned out by a stupendous amount of industry-funded misinformation, echoed by politicians they help elect and sympathetic media outlets” (Dr. Jeff Masters).

“Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems”, said the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) today, in the final installment of their once-every-seven-year report on the climate. Today’s Synthesis Report summarizes the key messages from Parts I, II, and III, issued in September 2013 – April 2014. The Synthesis Report warns that “continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.” During the press conference accompanying the report release, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said “action on climate change can contribute to economic prosperity, better health and more livable cities,” but warned that inaction would “cost much, much more.” I’ll comment on just three key themes from today’s report:

Source: www.wunderground.com