Doom and gloom
I have read an interesting few articles recently in new scientist (got a subscription for xmas!) They did a study that said even if we immediately started to construct 'clean' energy sources right now, eg solar, wind, coal, geothermal, nuclear, we would not be able to reduce carbon emissions enough to curb average global warming of over 2 degrees celsius. Reading this kind of thing I sometimes almost wonder why there aren't more people running around screaming and throwing themselves off buildings!
Another article said that the current spate of cold weather could in fact be caused by warmer temperatures overall, which are changing weather patterns such as the strong winds which held cold air over the poles. This was an interesting coincidence as I watched a doco about how there was a massive drought 4000 years ago, linked to changes in ocean currents reponsible for carrying warm air around the globe. This drought lasted 100 years or more, and was responsible for the decline of the pyramid age of the Egyptians.
Interesting to think that this can happen even with minimal human intervention. I think which ever way you look at it, there is big change on the horizon. I'm not too into doom and gloom but we are going to have to change our expectations about quality of life at some point in the next few generations if we want to sustain billions of people.
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