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8:58:00 AM EDT
Report Tallies Cost to Stop Global Warming
World Can Stabilize Temperatures, Greenhouse Gases: A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released May 4 detailed how the nations of the world can rein in greenhouse gas emissions to stave off the worst effects of global warming -- and how much it will cost.
According to a Reuters story, "Humans must make sweeping cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in the next 50 years to keep global warming in check, but it need cost only a tiny fraction of world economic output, a major U.N. report said on Friday.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said keeping the temperature rise within 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) would cost only 0.12 percent of annual gross domestic product.'"
The Associated Press noted: "The document made clear that the world has the technology and money to decisively act in time to avoid a sharp rise in temperatures that scientists say would wipe out species, raise ocean levels, wreak economic havoc and trigger droughts in some places and flooding in others. "
How can we do all of this? The report "stressed the use of nuclear, solar and wind power, more energy-efficient buildings and lighting, as well as capturing and storing carbon dioxide spewed from coal-fired power stations and oil and gas rigs." Biofuels can also play a role.
We'll all have to use less energy and prices for gasoline and electricity will likely rise. An article in the Washington Post cited an estimate that gasoline prices will increase by one dollar per gallon over the next few decades.
See the Green Options blog for how environmentalists responded to the report.
So, if we have the technology and the money to decrease pollution and stabilize global warming, I think we should do it. I'd pay more for gasoline (or drive less) and electricity to avert -- or reduce -- the effects of global warming. I think of it as a form of insurance: We insure ourselves against car accidents, home damage, floods -- why not against climate change?
Post your thoughts here.
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YOU DUMMYS JUST KEEP ON BELIEVING THE GLOBAL WARMING[make alot of money] HOAX
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American's....especially the liberal ones are so smart. Yes the world is overpopulated.......yes environments have a natural cleansing process..........yes temperatures rise and fall in a natural cycle over many moons, but no this is not normal. It is not rocket science yet it may as well be with the lack off reasoning and applied thinking. This coming from a scientist and rational thinker, but what the hey do I know.........when in doubt, sit back and watch the drama unfold. Mother nature has no bias.........she will pick on peasant and king alike!
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solution to cut cotwo emissions..don't drive old cars..more cars designed within the last ten years are sure to cut emissions in half but sometimes we get sentimentally attached to old junk and just keep driving it ...everyone knows who they are..you drive right by them and see a huge cloud of exhaust...and yeah, walking would also help!
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Their is no one way to stop global warming and its too late n the game now to pretend we don't have to do something.
That means ALL of the globe's peoples!
The main reason the trend started isn't as important as how to reverse it.
So let's see what we can do about returning Ozone over the poles as a start?
What about using giant Van-De-Graf generators on mountain tops to create artificial lightning, thereby OZONE?
I know that is an off-the-wall thought, but standard thinking got us into this mess.
I am just one person whose field of expertise does not fall under saving the world, but everyone has to try something and if that something works, do it again.
5/22/07 11:33 PM
Stop the rampant breeding! (And I mean of people.)