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Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
#1
Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
The scientific maverick James Lovelock says climate catastrophe is not so certain as he previously suggested. A move applauded by sceptics, who argue that the certainties of climate science have been exaggerated, but one that will also infuriate mainstream climate scientists, who have been striving to quantify those uncertainties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17988492

I personally don't know where I stand with Dr Lovelock, for every single argument he makes that I agree with, he'll make another statement that I completely disagree with.
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#2
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
While it might be sentimental to think of the Earth as an organism (which he calls Gaia), the fact is that the bulk of the Earth is composed of inorganic (not alive) rock. That said, I think he got the climate issue right the first time because it is a huge issue not only going into the future, but even today. I might also add that although he has written several popular books on the environment, he is not a climate scientist.
'The difference between a Miracle and a Fact is exactly the difference between a mermaid and seal. It could not be expressed better.'
-- Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens

"I think that in the discussion of natural problems we ought to begin not with the scriptures, but with experiments, demonstrations, and observations".

- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

"In short, Meyer has shown that his first disastrous book was not a fluke: he is capable of going into any field in which he has no training or research experience and botching it just as badly as he did molecular biology. As I've written before, if you are a complete amateur and don't understand a subject, don't demonstrate the Dunning-Kruger effect by writing a book about it and proving your ignorance to everyone else! "

- Dr. Donald Prothero
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#3
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
I don't think Climate is an issue. The Climate of the Planet has changed many, many times.

I am thinking that our adaptation to any climate change is the issue and resent the alarmist and apathetic responses to this issue.

I, also, am not aware that 'Climate Science' is an exact science yet, and think that the models for public display are misleading and confusing. Possibly why people akin to Dr Lovelock can get away with their "tomes of wisdom"(note sarcastic tone).
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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#4
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
I live by this motto 'plan for the worst, hope for the best'
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful" - Edward Gibbon (Offen misattributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca or Seneca the Younger) (Thanks to apophenia for the correction)
'I am driven by two main philosophies:
Know more about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you' - Neil deGrasse Tyson
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
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#5
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
If climate change doesn't get us the coming recession might and if we survive *that* then theres always the impending asteroid heading straight for us.
My recommendation for how we use the next year?

*ziiiip* *FLOP*
Its orgi time. -.-
"That is not dead which can eternal lie and with strange aeons even death may die." 
- Abdul Alhazred.
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#6
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
(May 11, 2012 at 1:53 am)KichigaiNeko Wrote: I don't think Climate is an issue. The Climate of the Planet has changed many, many times.

If climate is not an issue, why do productive human population centers tend to cluster around particular climate zones and around particular local environments such as warm water ports and abundant surface water that is made possible only by the climate?

The fact that the planet's climate has changed many times is besides the point. During much of earth's history the climate is inextricably tied to environments that would kill us on contact. During parts of the other times the climate may not kill us on contact, but would make quite uncomfortable, and would probably stop much of our current infrastructure in their tracks, if not into immediate ruin.

The point is modern humans evolved under certain climate conditions, and modern infrastructure is even more sensitive to the climate. The earth may not care much if the climate change, our economy would be very sorry if the climate were to change significantly from those of the last 300 years, during which we developed our climate adapted infrastructure and demographics.







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#7
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
(May 11, 2012 at 12:00 pm)Chuck Wrote: The earth may not care much if the climate change, our economy would be very sorry if the climate were to change significantly from those of the last 300 years, during which we developed our climate adapted infrastructure and demographics.

Isn't that essentially the same as the point Kichi made? It's not the climate we have to worry about, rather how we deal with it. I think you got a bit caught up on how Kichi worded what she was saying (unless she is saying something completely different to what I think she is)

What exactly are you suggesting?
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#8
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
It behoves us to carefully estimate and compare the cost of adapting to climate change, and actively slowing and diminishing climate change
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#9
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
Yes that is true. It will no doubt be beneficial to slow down climate change itself. But at some point in human history we are going to experience climate change, or at least I would of thought so.
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#10
RE: Climate catastrophe isn't so certain
(May 11, 2012 at 12:28 pm)Napoleon Wrote: Yes that is true. It will no doubt be beneficial to slow down climate change itself. But at some point in human history we are going to experience climate change, or at least I would of thought so.

Yeah, assuming science developes, and the society becomes richer and command increasing greater financial and material resource, then it seems highly likely that the more we can delay the inevitable climate change, the less costly relative to the growing total resource of our civilization would be our efforts to adapt to it or deal with it when it comes.

As an illustration, suppose climate change came in 19th century, the total casualty from resultant famine, migration, war, and other social disruption etc might have been in hundreds of millions out of a population of a billion or two. If it comes in the end of 21st century, we might experience casaulties of millions, maybe tens of millions, out of total population of maybe nine billion.
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