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The superhighway to catastrophic climate change

The last presidential debate ignored climate change. As Kelly Rigg puts it,

Think of our CO2 emissions pathway as a superhighway, down which we are barrelling at breakneck speed. Up ahead is a brick wall spanning the highway. It's not a wall of climate impacts -- we are already experiencing those and more are unavoidable whatever we do. The wall is the point of no return, the moment when our emissions cross the threshold between dangerous climate change and globally catastrophic climate change.

... our elected leaders are blithely ignoring the world's climate scientists, most of whom are too polite to actually shout. But make no mistake, scientists are telling us to take our foot off the accelerator pedal and hit the brakes... fast.

... if you think there's only a marginal difference between a 2° and 4° world (which are just off-ramps along the superhighway to a 6° world or higher) think again. Consider this quotefrom climate scientists Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows:

"There is a widespread view that a 4 degrees C future is incompatible with an organised global community, is likely to be beyond "adaptation," is devastating to the majority of ecosystems, and has a high probability of not being stable (i.e., 4 degrees C would be an interim temperature on the way to a much higher equilibrium level)."

[emphasis mine]

Climate Change: Will Presidential Candidates Pass the 'Invisible Br...

Now we know the candidates failed.

Tags: George Lakoff, Kelly Rigg, catastrophic climate change, climate change, climate destabilization, dangerous climate change, systemic causation

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on October 24, 2012 at 1:03pm

My litmus test is the profligate recreational use of fuel (auto racing, boats, jetskis, etc., etc): no society that is serious about climate change burns fossil fuels for its own amusement. It's not gonna stop, and we're screwed.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on October 26, 2012 at 4:43pm

I would have to agree Alan.

Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on October 27, 2012 at 5:25pm

Thanks, Steph. And I really wanted to be an optimist about the future of the human race (faith in technology to solve any problem), but the more I learn -- endless wars, ecological devastation, waste of resources, fossil fuel depletion, presence of WMDs in the hands of crazy people, water shortages, overpopulation, and now climate change -- the less interest I have in seeing how it all turns out. Upside: the worst won't happen till after I'm gone.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on February 23, 2013 at 3:27pm

Alan, with all the "peaks" and breakdown coming in our generation, I have to agree with your assessment, "Upside: the worst won't happen till after I'm gone."
That said, make every day worth living, to engage in disputes/debates with full knowledge I have nothing to lose and may gain some time for future generations, to not be concerned with making friends, to make the kinds of friends that can see and understand what is happening and why, who seek healthy alternatives, and have fun doing it.

And dance to your fine rhythms

Music Perlman, Alan - Jazz Playlist by Joan Denoo

Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on February 23, 2013 at 4:50pm

Joan, I am delighted and honored that you pulled together all my clips - even some that I'd forgotten about. Someday we will have an atheists' gathering at your place or mine, and I'll play live. OK? All best, Alan

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on October 27, 2012 at 10:59pm

Excellent point, Alan!

Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on October 28, 2012 at 4:24pm

Thanks, Ruth. You mean about not being around for the end? I've already seen it many times, in movies. Also saw an interesting documentary about what the world will look like 500 yeara fter we're gone.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on October 30, 2012 at 10:56pm

The point to which I was referring was

My litmus test is the profligate recreational use of fuel (auto racing, boats, jetskis, etc., etc): no society that is serious about climate change burns fossil fuels for its own amusement.

As a senior citizen I used to think the worst won't happen till after I'm gone. And while that's still true, Climate Destabilization is unfolding more and more rapidly: Haboob, Derecho, Wildfires rampant, superstorms, record drought and heat wave, melting Arctic, etc. We will live to see a lot of degradation.

Permalink Reply by Grinning Cat on October 31, 2012 at 12:05am

Thanks for amplifying Alan's incisive words with compelling pictures!

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on February 23, 2013 at 3:30pm

Ruth, as usual, you make powerful points with your photos and prose.

Permalink Reply by Grinning Cat on October 31, 2012 at 12:04am

I agree that as a society we're flagrantly failing this litmus test.

(Any connection between NASCAR fans and anti-science Republicans?)

, (from Reuters: "Romney tries a retool with NASCAR race fans")

Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on October 31, 2012 at 7:33pm

Thanks for clarifying. Sometimes I think I'm the only one with this concern. The Republicans are definitely courting the NASCAR fans. They, as far as I know, climate-change deniers. All the talk of alternate fuels is just that. But can't you see people picketing the auto races as the gas runs out?