Earth is reaching its breaking point, U (of MN) scientists warn [View All]

[question everything]

U scientists join others in warning that people may have the planet near environmental breaking point.

By TOM MEERSMAN, Star Tribune

September 24, 2009

Human pressure is pushing the planet's food, water and environmental systems to the breaking point, say more than two dozen leading scientists, including two from the University of Minnesota. Their conclusions, published Wednesday in an unusual paper in the journal Nature ("Planetary Boundaries: A Safe Operating Space for Humanity"), are the first attempt to define the physical and biological limits of Earth as nations increase development and populations.

"For lack of a better phrase, the Earth becomes a bit more like Humpty Dumpty," said report co-author Jon Foley, director of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. "You push it, it falls over, and it breaks. You can't put it back together again." If systems unravel, he said, the planet will survive but there could be huge costs and disruption in the world's economy.

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As a climatologist, Foley said that he watched average global temperatures inch up very slowly over the years, and then ice sheets and glaciers started to disappear rather rapidly. "Suddenly we began to lose the integrity of the climate system," he said.

The study defines nine subsystems that need to be watched closely to avoid irreversible damage. They include climate change, global freshwater use, ocean acidification, species extinction, ozone depletion, conversion of natural land to cropland, chemical pollution, atmospheric pollution, and nitrogen and phosphorus additions to the biosphere and oceans.

Of the nine systems, climate change, species extinction and nitrogen additions are changing at rates faster than scientists believe is sustainable, the paper states.

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http://www.startribune.com/local/60706347.html


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We need to stop providing tax credit after five children. Selfish individuals who continue to be "fruitful and multiply" have to pay for them. And.. we need to subsidize birth control pills and devices.