After four days of intense discussion in Bangkok involving scientists, economists, and government officials from more than 100 countries, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its third and final report for this year. It calls for what us greenies have been saying for years: Make significant cuts on greenhouse gas emissions, pronto.

From an Associated Press story on CNN.com:

Under the most stringent scenario, the report said the world must stabilize the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2015—eight years from now—to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over preindustrial levels.

And from an article on nature.com:

It is widely agreed that to avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change, warming should be kept below 2°C over today’s temperatures. This probably means stabilizing greenhouse gases at between 450 and 550 parts per million (p.p.m.) of CO2 equivalent. Currently they are at around 430 p.p.m. Co2 equivalent and rising by 2 p.p.m. each year.

The report says that achieving stabilization at 535 p.p.m., C02 equivalent will require emissions cuts of between 50% and 85% by the middle of this century. Strategies to cut greenhouse emissions include targeted capping schemes such as the Kyoto Protocol, improved energy efficiency, and switches to alternative fuel sources such as nuclear and renewables.

Like the two previous IPCC reports, this one also outlined the problems that will likely occur if carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions aren’t controlled (think: water shortages for billions of people, extinction of 20 to 30 percent of the world’s species, and rising ocean levels).

But this report also had a message of hope: Yes, the changes that have to take place are significant, but the world has the money and resources to make them happen, without facing economic ruin.

From CNN:

The document made clear that the world has the technology and money to decisively act in time to avoid a sharp rise in temperatures that scientists say would wipe out species, raise ocean levels, wreak economic havoc and trigger droughts in some places and flooding in others.

Delegates said the approval of the report should conclusively debunk arguments by skeptics that combating global warming was too costly, that it would stifle development in the world’s poorer countries or that the temperature rise had gone too far for humankind to do anything about.

In order to drastically cut back on emissions, the report calls for an increase in fossil fuel-alternatives, as well as carbon capping policies.

From a New York Times article:

To stop the rise, report authors said, countries would need to expand the adoption of existing policies that can cut emissions—like a fuel tax or the binding limits set by the Kyoto Protocol—while also increasing research seeking new energy options. This work would include pushing for advances in solar and nuclear power.

The report was released this morning, and is expected to be formally adopted this afternoon.

Posted by Sarah Parsons on May 4, 2007 at 2:40 PM
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