Climate Panel Sees Need for New Steps on Emissions

[RedEarth]

Substantial new efforts will be needed worldwide to stem accelerating growth in greenhouse-gas emissions linked to rising global temperatures, according to a summary of a report being prepared by hundreds of climate scientists and economists working under the auspices of the United Nations.

The summary, which is subject to revision, said that efforts to rein in the billions of tons of annual releases of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases would have to begin soon to limit risks of large changes in the climate and their impact on humans and nature.

“Mitigation efforts over the next two to three decades will determine to a large extent the long-term global mean temperature increase and the corresponding climate change impacts that can be avoided,” the draft said.

The document will undergo substantial revisions during a weeklong meeting starting Monday in Bangkok, said scientists involved in reviewing and writing it, and authors of the report declined to discuss specifics. Scientists working on the report said that some warming is unavoidable, but prompt action can make a big difference in the end.

“We can’t be sure of avoiding dangerous climate interference, but it’s true we can identify a lot that can be done now, and over the next few decades, to increase the chances a lot,” said Michael Grubb, an author of the report and chief economist for the Carbon Trust, an organization financed by the British government to help promote cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/us/27climate.html

[postulater]

1. 52 mpg in my Prius this morning and I didn't even get the tax

credit they promised. My accountant was stymied when his software blocked the credit we thought we were allowed. Apparently there was some fine print that disallows the credit when some minimum alternative tax thing happens. What a rip. Not that it would have influenced our purchase but it did make a difference in our taxes between a refund and a payout.