<div dir="ltr"><font size="3"><font size="2">Dear all, <br><br>You're welcome to this, as are any email networks you happen to have.</font><br><br></font><b><font size="3">Climate tipping points: the science and the politics</font></b><br>
<br>Climate change is threatening to reach
abrupt tipping points, similar to those it has reached at other times
in the Earth's history. This makes stopping further warming a more
critical priority than ever. Meanwhile public debate is dealing with
the wrong questions while real opportunities to solve our problems are
ignored. Politics is failing. <br><br>Andrew Glickson will discuss the science of tipping points then Geoff Davies will talk about the politics.<br><br> <b>PART 1 - by Andrew Glikson -- Earth scientist researching the history of Earth, mass extinction of species and climate change.<br>
</b><br>
Studies of Antarctica and Greenland ice cores indicate abrupt warming
events during the recent history of Earth, triggered by solar forcing
and reaching decade-scale tipping points, were related to ice melt/warm
water feedback effects and carbon cycle feedbacks from warming oceans
and drying biosphere. Current climate change, forced by the infrared
radiation effects of CO2 and CH4 derived from the burning of over 300
billion tons of Carbon, accelerated from the mid-1970s, is threatening
to reach tipping points. According to leading US climate scientists the
current CO2 levels of 387 ppm are already at dangerous levels, calling
for urgent reduction in carbon emissions as well as attempts at
developing CO2 draw-down technologies.<br><br><b>Part 2 <font size="2">-</font> by Geoff Davies <font size="2">- </font><font size="2">The Hopeful, Neglected Path </font><br>
</b><br>Most
of the public discussion of global warming misses key points, and our
best opportunities. The policy debate should not be about whether
human-caused global warming is "proven" - in strictest terms it is not.
The policy debate should start from the best collective judgement of
scientists, which is very clear, that there's a high risk we are
causing global warming. The quickest and cheapest way to cut greenhouse
emissions is to cut energy waste dramatically. This will actually save
money in the early stages. Renewable energy sources then become
sufficient and cost-effective. Politics as usual is failing. The major
parties only hear the polluters whispering in their ears. We need
people to reclaim politics and the Parliament.<br><b><br>When: 6 - 7:30pm 9th September <br>Where: Manning Clarke T1</b><br><br clear="all">Kind regards, <br><br>-- <br>Katja Grace<br>
BSc/Econ Undergraduate<br>President, ANU Zero Emissions Society<br>e: <a href="mailto:katjasolveig@gmail.com" target="_blank">katjasolveig@gmail.com</a><br>m: 0407124549<br>p: 02 62491216<br>
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