A talk by Jim Hansen and coworkers on the role of non-CO2 pollutants, given at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, sounds yet again optimistic that we can avoid climate destabilization. Non CO2 forcings take a surprisingly large part in the total amount of climate forcings, but they can be reduced with appropriate policies. The main problem remains to be CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. Therefore, Jim Hansen again calls for strict and drastic policies to drastically reduce CO2 emissions, especially by quickly moving away from coal-fired power plants that cannot sequester CO2.

We note that it will be exceedingly difficult to determine the aerosol climate forcing relative to pre-industrial climate.  However, for policy purposes it may be sufficient to start with the present situation and consider climate forcing changes relative to today.  The planet’s present energy imbalance, at least to first order, determines the change of climate forcings needed to stabilize climate.  Climate models, using typical presumed scenarios of climate forcings for the past century, suggest that the planet should be out of energy balance by +0.75 ± 0.25 W/m2, but observations of ocean heat content change (averaged over the 11-year solar cycle) suggest an imbalance of only +0.5 ± 0.25 W/m2 (absorbed solar energy exceeding heat radiation to space). (more…)

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while will understand how excited I am. 350 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere is a goal that we urgently need to work towards to avoid a climate catastrophe (see previous 350 articles on this blog). For months many of us have urged Al Gore to include 350 ppm in his message to the world.

Today he did. He did so in front of the entire world, at the UN Climate Confrence in Poznan. In his words “450 ppm is ineadequate. We have to toughen up and reach 350 ppm.” (more…)

Finally! The EPA is showing leadership in environmental protection at a scale appropriate for this important federal US agency.

In a move that signals the start of the our clean energy future,  the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) ruled today EPA had no valid reason for refusing to limit carbon dioxide emissions from new coal-fired power plants.  The decision means that all new and proposed coal plants nationwide must go back and address their carbon dioxide emissions.

“Today’s decision opens the way for meaningful action to fight global warming and is a major step in bringing about a clean energy economy,” said Joanne Spalding, Sierra Club Senior Attorney who argued the case. “This is one more sign that we must begin repowering,  refueling and rebuilding America.” (more…)

Leider wurde nach Al Gore’s Rede bei der öffentlichen Wasserwirtschaft in München letzten Freitag hauptsächlich darüber berichtet, daß Journalisten nach 5 Minuten herausgeworfen wurden (Süddeutsche hier und hier). Der Ärger ist verständlich, jedoch hilft er nicht, einen Weg aus der Klimakrise zu finden. Stattdessen wird abgelenkt auf persönliche Frustrationen, die langfristig nicht weiterhelfen. Und übrigens, die Beschuldigungen, daß Al Gore immer wieder die gleiche Rede hält, stimmt nicht. Ich hörte ihn diese Woche 3 mal, und jedes mal lernte ich etwas anderes dazu.

Ganz egal, wie sehr man sich über die schwer nachzuvollziehende Bestimmung Al Gore’s ärgert, es bleibt doch Faktum, daß wir ganz kurz vor einer Katastrophe stehen, die sich keiner wirklich ausmalen kann oder will. Es geht um viel mehr als um frustrierende Regulierungen. (more…)

Oil and Gas Seen to Have Lesser Effect

Satellite imagery shows where carbon dioxide is being emitted or absorbed, measured here in 2003. Reds show sources; blues, absorption. Courtesy, NASA.

An ongoing rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels might be kept below harmful levels if emissions from coal are phased out within the next few decades, say researchers. They say that less plentiful oil and gas should be used sparingly as well, but that far greater supplies of coal mean that it must be the main target of reductions. Their study appears in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles. (more…)

How do we most effectively communicate our concern to the rest of the world? Now that we know that we are already above the safe level of CO2, now that we know that we need to reduce the CO2 concentration from 385 to 350 ppm, the urgency of effective communication is even greater.

350.org, as we already reported here (in German) or here has started a fun and engaging campaign to spread the number 350 around the world. Global citizens are encouraged to take the number and do with it whatever they feel inspired to do, to express their concern through art, music, poetry, demonstrations, or whatever else.

We already reported about the first 350 song by Jan Nigro. Now we have the first gorgeous 350 quilt, made by Michele Landuyt, who had responded to our call to quilters of the world.

Thank you, Michelle, and thanks to everybody else who feels inspired by 350, and who take the number to help the world understand the urgency of the crisis, and the beauty of the solutions.

Maiken

Die Initiative 350.org geht heute, Montag den 9.6. 2009, global.

Die Initiative 350.org, nun schon auf 12 Sprachen übersetzt, hat sich ein wichtiges Ziel gesetzt: Menschen auf der ganzen Welt darüber zu informieren, wie wir die verheerenden Auswirkungen des Klimawandels vermeiden können. Wir benötigen ein Ziel , welches nicht nur ein Lippenbekenntnis ist, sondern welches es tatsächlich schaffen kann, uns aus dem Gefahrenbereich zu bringen. Dieses Ziel lautet:

(more…)

Was ist noch einmal unser Ziel? 350. 350 ppm. 350 ppm CO2. 287 ppm ist mehr. Zu viel.

Allerdings ist 387 ppm kein Mittelwert, sondern “nur” der Maximalwert der globalen CO2-Konzentration im Monat Mai 2008. Insgesamt wird das Jahr 2008 im Mittel eine geringere globale CO2-Konzentration aufweisen. Außerdem muß betont werden, daß die Daten des letzten Jahres erst vorläufig sind, und noch kalibriert werden müssen. Die einzelnen Datenpunkte in der nebenstehenden Grafik von NOAA können sich also noch leicht ändern. (more…)

By Herman E. Daly

Recent increased attention to global warming is very welcome. But much of it is misplaced.

We focus too much on complex climate models, which ask things like how far emissions will increase carbon dioxide concentration, how much that will raise temperatures, by when, with what consequences to climate and geography, and how likely new information will invalidate model results. Together these questions can paralyze us with uncertainty.

A better question for determining public policy is simpler: “Can we continue to emit increasing amounts of greenhouse gases without provoking unacceptable climate change?”

Scientists overwhelmingly agree the answer is no. (more…)

Reprinted with permission from Peter Montaque

The coal, oil, automobile, railroad and electric power industries are planning to “solve” the global warming problem by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) and burying it a mile underground, hoping it will stay there forever. The plan is called CCS, short for “carbon capture and storage” (or sometimes “carbon capture and sequestration”).

Emitting CO2 into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) is thought to be the main human contribution to global warming.

If industry’s CCS plan were ever implemented, it would be the largest hazardous waste disposal project that humans have ever undertaken, and among the most dangerous as well. (more…)