Climate talks pass baton in race to stop global warming

The world is heading for a 3-5C rise in temperatures this century, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization has said.

Just to give an idea, here's from National Geographic's "Six Degrees Could Change the World" :

At 3ºC higher the Arctic would be ice-free all summer, the Amazon rainforest would begin to dry out and extreme weather patterns would become the norm. An increase of 4ºC would see the oceans rise drastically. Then comes the twilight zone of climate change, if the global temperature rises again by another degree. Part of once temperate regions could become uninhabitable, while humans fight each other for the world’s remaining resources. The sixth degree is what is called the doomsday scenario as oceans become marine wastelands, deserts expand and catastrophic events become more common.

Sticking our head in the (tar)sand does not prevent climate change from advancing. We can deny it all we want, but it is happening, and accelerating, before our eyes. Honestly, what would it hurt to take significant steps to lower our carbon emissions ... to hedge our bets just in case it's true, for the benefit of future generations? The answer is easy ... there is a lot of money to be made. Our country's obstructionist participation in the climate talks is infuriating.

Fundamental to human happiness and well being is having a struggle, a battle to win. Life is pretty good for most people in developed countries so people need a struggle, a cause. As part of the struggle participants feel obligated to use whatever means to win the struggle to gain a sense of meaning and purpose to their lives.

Climate Changers and Deniers are both using extreme hyperbole as part of the "fight."

One can basically dismiss any story that quotes Greenpeace as a reliable organization as part of the propaganda battle. It would be like quoting Neo-Nazis as a good source of information to comment on immigration policy.

The good point is a lot of people care about our planet. The bad point is they have zero influence over big business.

Concrete (Portland cement) production causes 8% of CO2 emissions worldwide, equivalent to a complete country ranking third in the world. Big BBC article on this today.