Worst Case Scenario

[andygates]

The Copenhagen Diagnosis is an update to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report to cover research published since 2006.

The blue squiggly line is satellite observations. The grey cone is the range of IPCC predictions - in this case for sea level rise. The observations closely track the worst case scenario.

Oh. Shit.

The IPCC's worst cases are pretty damn 'worst'. They're things like a Greenland melt this century, so there's something for the kids to look forward to.

The false-flap around 'climategate'? It's trying to distract people from this.

Comments

[ladyjulian.livejournal.com]

Dunno if you happened to catch "Can Obama save the planet" last night. The presenter stopped off in West Virginia where they had a sweet and cuddly neighbourhood group threatening *physical violence* on the subject of climate change and arguing that any attempt to stop them chowing through carbons was communism. *headdesk*

[andygates.livejournal.com]

The behaviour of a child. "I want I want I want" and then hitting until they get it. Alas, we haven't got a naughty step big enough. But they'll change when given a financial lever - which is why financial levers are the ones that matter.

As for corporations, Well Def Jeff has an interesting point:

"I believe that for the most part, the corporations involved have little choice under the law but to protect their profits by pursuing Manufactured Doubt campaigns, as long as they are legal. The law in all 50 U.S. states has a provision similar to Maine's section 716, "The directors and officers of a corporation shall exercise their powers and discharge their duties with a view to the interest of the corporation and of the shareholders". There is no clause at the end that adds, "...but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, the public safety, the communities in which the corporation operates, or the dignity of employees". The law makes a company's board of directors legally liable for "breach of fiduciary responsibility" if they knowingly manage a company in a way that reduces profits. Shareholders can and have sued companies for being overly socially responsible, and not paying enough attention to the bottom line. "

[teahisme.livejournal.com]

Happy Thanksgiving to you too :P

It does feel rather Oh shit though. :(

[andygates.livejournal.com]

"I'm thankful that I live on high ground in a rich Western country" ? ;)

[teahisme.livejournal.com]

mmm hmm although I guess that isn't particularly nice of me.