Action, not words. That might be the long overdue message our leaders need to hear on climate change. The US Energy Department reports that recent greenhouse gas emissions have increased by a record amount, exceeding even the "worst case" scenario posited by climate scientists four years ago.
The world pumped about 564m more tons (512m metric tons) of carbon into the air in 2010 than it did in 2009, an increase of 6%. That amount of extra pollution eclipses the individual emissions of all but three countries, China, the US and India, the world's top producers of greenhouse gases.
It is a "monster" increase that is unheard of, said Gregg Marland, a professor of geology at Appalachian State University, who has helped calculate department of energy figures in the past.
Extra pollution in China and the US account for more than half the increase in emissions last year, Marland said.
5 comments:
Mound, of the topic, do you know whatever happened to Brian Fisher or "small fish in a big pond". He is a nice fellow and has not updated his blog for over a year now.
No, LD. I had understood he was giving blogging a break to concentrate on building his legal career. I know how demanding that can be and his decision is entirely understandable.
cheers
The evidence keeps piling up, Mound -- and it keeps being ignored.
The powers that be are truly woodenheaded.
Our government is failing us and the rest of the world miserably. Environment Commissioner Vaughan noted in his recent audit that not only have we backed off our Kyoto committment of reducing GHG 6% below 1990 levels, and despite spending $9B on climate change, it is doubtful we will even meet our lowered targets. Emissions monitoring is so poor, particularly with respect to the Tar Sands, we don't even know if we're on track. WTF is wrong with this country? Are we all asleep?
What is wrong? Where to begin? Public apathy, certainly. Fear of damaging the economy. Intimidation and manipulation. A Parliament packed on both sides of the aisle with Petro-Pols. Greed and a profoundly callous willingness to kick this problem down the road for future generations.
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