11 Degrees of Separation
Scientists just met in Copenhagen, Denmark to discuss the state of science surrounding the climate. The prognosis–we’re in serious trouble unless we change course, fast.
The news was pretty grim for the most part, with each bit of science raising dire prediction after dire prediction.
The one bright piece of science is that Greenland may not lose its ice sheet unless the world warms twice as much as previously thought.
But the science overall, painted a picture of a hot, somewhat habitable planet in the future, with acid oceans at much higher levels than today.
Just as the science raises concerns, the economists in attendance see an opportunity. They want to stimulate the global economy and tackle climate change at the same time–by making greenhouse gas emissions targets more stringent.
The Guardian newspaper has a special section on the Copenhagen Climate Congress, the three-day science meeting that served as the warm up to a policy meeting in December, where the successor to the Kyoto Protocol will be fashioned.
Scientists, policymakers and great thinkers are trying to work on ways to maintain those critical 11 degrees of separation. What are your ideas?
Listen here.
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