Scientists Call For Swift Action on Global Warming

By Rebecca Cantwell

Time is rapidly running out to avert the catastrophic effects of continued global warming, two internationally known climate scientists told attendees at SOLAR 2006 Monday morning.

The threat of global warming is “a clear and present danger,’’ because of the continued growth in emissions of greenhouse gases, said Dr. James Hansen, who heads the NASA Institute for Space Studies. While there is still time to act, “the window of opportunity is very rapidly closing,’’ he added.

Hansen and Dr. Warren Washington, a leading climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, shared some of the latest climate change knowledge at the opening plenary of the American Solar Energy Society’s national conference in Denver, where 1,800 people are registered.  The theme is “Renewable Energy: Key to climate recovery.’’

Business as usual – annual increases of 2 percent in carbon dioxide emissions—will lead to global warming of 3 degrees C. by the end of the century, according to scientific models. That would lead to extinctions of roughly half the species of animals and plants, along with oceans rising  80 feet higher than they are now. “”We would end up with a system out of our control,’’  Hansen said, including  all cities on the east coast of the U.S. under water. Also submerged would be places in China inhabited by 200 million people, areas of India where 150 million people live and virtually the entire nation of Bangladesh.

To avoid such a scenario and keep warming to 1 degree C. in this century, major changes are needed quickly, Hansen said. Carbon dioxide emissions need to flatten out and begin to decline. He suggested phasing out coal emissions by 2012 in developed nations and by 2022 in developing countries – capturing and sequestering carbon pollution – and then phasing out old coal plants by 2025.

 Washington painted a similarly frightening scenario through video displays of climate modeling showing melting Arctic ice and more intense storms. Global warming will lead to more severe heat waves in the southern and western regions of North America as well as in Western Europe and the Mediterranean, he said. But like Hansen, he held out some hope.

“We need to have the snow and ice stop melting and grow, which means drastically lowering greenhouse gas concentrations, ‘’ Washington said. “Solar energy could be a major contributor to that objective.’’

Using a video zooming into the U.S. Capitol, Washington said, “”Hopefully, future climate change policy debates will take place here.’’

Hansen drew a gloomy contrast between the leadership shown on solving the global ozone problem in the 1970s and today’s global warming awareness.

Scientists today, Hansen said, have not made clear enough that the status quo will lead to a different planet. The media, seeking a false “balance’’ has portrayed an issue of scientific consensus as a debate, special interests have disseminated disinformation, the public is confused and the government has failed to lead.

Now, it is “barely possible’’ to achieve a scenario of limiting global temperature increases to 1 degree C. this century. “”The sad thing is it’s not going to be the political leaders who pay the consequences, nor the special interests, ‘’ he said. “”It will be our children who suffer the consequences.’’

Hansen’s prescription? “”The public must get informed and get angry.’’

Rebecca Cantwell was a reporter with The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News for 20 years, and is covering SOLAR 2006 for the American Solar Energy Society.