<span class="gmail_quote"></span><span class="gmail_quote"></span>Lovelock's comments (see article below), though possibly correct are clearly couched in
terms of a pessimism that sees little chance of our society making the
big changes needed to give us any change of dealing with the threat of
climate change.
<br><br>One reason for a lack of effective responce to date is Lovelock types are
saying were are doomed, while Gore and others are telling us to change a light
globe, creating confusion in the
public mind as to the severity of what we are actually facing.<br><br>Once people actually realise the situation we face in its full
depth the outcry will be enormous and the resulting response huge as
the energy people have directed in getting us to this point of crisis
today will be redirected into solving the problem, hopefully before its
too late. <br><br>If anything Lovelock's comments emphasize the importance of the
work being done by Beyond Zero Emission and other groups working on the
zero emission minus goal, for it is only through the attainment of this goal
that will we give the future a chance. Likewise it is the only goal that correctly
frames the problem in a way that solutions become obvious.
<br><br>We must continue to push the zero emission minus goal, educate the
public about the seriousness of the problem and give them a way
forward that justifies the word "hope".<br><br>Adrian<br><span class="gmail_quote"><br></span>
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<div><span><strong>Last Update:</strong> Wednesday, November 29, 2006.
10:01am (AEDT)</span></div>
<h1>Gaia scientist Lovelock predicts planetary wipe-out</h1>
<div>
<p>The Earth has a fever that could boost temperatures
by 8 degrees Celsius, making large parts of the surface uninhabitable and
threatening billions of peoples' lives, a controversial climate scientist
has said. </p>
<p>James Lovelock, who angered climate scientists with
his Gaia theory of a living planet and then alienated environmentalists by
backing nuclear power, said a traumatised Earth might only be able to
support less than a tenth of its six billion people. </p>
<p>"We are not all doomed. An awful lot of people will
die, but I don't see the species dying out," he told a news conference.
</p>
<p>"A hot Earth couldn't support much over 500 million."
</p>
<p>"Almost all of the systems that have been looked at
are in positive feedback ... and soon those effects will be larger than
any of the effects of carbon dioxide emissions from industry and so on
around the world," he added. </p>
<p>Scientists say that global warming due to carbon
emissions from burning fossil fuels for power and transport could boost
average temperatures by up to 6C by the end of the century causing floods,
famines and violent storms. </p>
<p>But they also say that tough action now to cut carbon
emissions could stop atmospheric concentrations of CO2 hitting 450 parts
per million - equivalent to a temperature rise of 2C from pre-industrial
levels - and save the planet. </p>
<p>Mr Lovelock said temperature rises of up to 8C were
already built in and, while efforts to curb it were morally commendable,
they were wasted. </p>
<p>"It is a bit like if your kidneys fail you can go on
dialysis - and who would refuse dialysis if death is the alternative. We
should think of it in that context," he said. </p>
<p>"But remember that all they are doing is buying us
time, no more. The problems go on," he added. </p>
<h2>Refuge</h2>
<p></p>
<p>Mr Lovelock adopted the name Gaia, the Greek mother
Earth goddess, in the 1960s to apply to his then revolutionary theory that
the Earth functions as a single, self-sustaining organism. His theory is
now widely accepted. </p>
<p>In London to give a lecture on the environment to the
Institution of Chemical Engineers, he said the planet had survived
dramatic climate change at least seven times. </p>
<p>"In the change from the last Ice Age to now we lost
land equivalent to the continent of Africa beneath the sea," he said. "We
are facing things just as bad or worse than that during this century."
</p>
<p>"There are refuges, plenty of them. Fifty-five
million years ago ... life moved up to the Arctic, stayed there during the
course of it and then moved back again as things improved. I fear that
this is what we may have to do," he added. </p>
<p>Mr Lovelock said the United States, which has
rejected the Kyoto protocol on cutting carbon emissions, wrongly believed
there was a technological solution, while booming economies China and
India were out of control. </p>
<p>China is building a coal-fired power station a week
to feed rampant demand and India's economy is likewise surging. </p>
<p>If either suddenly decided to stop their
carbon-fuelled development to lift their billions of people out of poverty
they would face a revolution, yet if they continued, rising CO2 and
temperatures would kill off plants and produce famine, he said. </p>
<p>"If climate change goes on course ... I can't see
China being able to produce enough food by the middle of the century to
support its people. They will have to move somewhere and Siberia is empty
and it will be warmer then," he said. </p>
<p>-<strong>Reuters</strong></p></div>
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<span class="sg"></span><br>-- <br>Adrian Whitehead<br>Beyond Zero Emissions<br>Kindness House<br>Suite 10<br>288 Brunswick St<br>Fitzroy 3065<br>0403 735 118