Climate Change..Do we Care Enough???

Two studies on climate change have concluded that rises in global temperatures are unlikely to remain below a critical threshold deemed by the world's governments to be safe.

Policy-makers have adopted a goal of keeping the average global rise in surface temperatures to no more than 3.6F (2C) above pre-industrial revolution levels.

This will mean stabilising CO2 emissions immediately and then substantially after 2015 to avoid the kind of levels in the atmosphere which will accelerate global warming.

But two studies from Oxford University and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impacts Research, published in Nature, claim that current levels of carbon emission – actually increasing at three per cent a year – will mean the temperature rise will be exceeded. There is now only a 50 per cent chance of avoiding it even if drastic measures are taken.

Rises above 3.6F (2C) are expected to lead to deforestation, flooding and droughts across the world.

Dr Vicky Pope, Head of Climate Change Advice at the Met Office, said: "Even with drastic cuts in emissions in the next 10 years, our results project that there will only be around a 50 per cent chance of keeping global temperatures rises below 3.6F (2 C).

"This idealised emissions scenario is based on emissions peaking in 2015 and quickly changing from an increase of 2–3 per cent per year to a decrease of 3 per cent per year. For every 10 years we delay action another 0.9F (0.5C) will be added to the most likely temperature rise."

Meanwhile a separate study by the UK Energy Research Centre found meeting the target to cut greenhouse emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 will cost around £17 billion a year, or around £700 on the average electricity bill by 2050.

However, if people object to onshore wind farms and nuclear power stations, it will cost £20 billion a year, as more expensive technologies will have to be used, adding £800 to the electricity bill.

Dr Jeanette Whitaker, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and one of the report's authors, called it the "Nimby scenario", where people object to such projects located in their own area but not to siting them elsewhere. "It is valid to object to wind farms or nuclear power stations," she said. "But if you object to technology, you will have to be prepared to either pay more for your electricity or make lifestyle changes to reduce energy use."

Telah kelihatan kerosakan di darat dan di laut disebabkan perbuatan tangan manusia, kerana Allah hendak merasakan mereka sebahagian daripada balasan perbuatan buruk yang mereka telah lakukan supaya mereka kembali insaf. (al-Rum: 41)