Thursday, December 1, 2011

Politicians do not take climate change seriously

Yet another climate talks, this time in Durban, will yet again end in a major disappointment as world leaders are still far away from agreeing on new climate deal which means that carbon emissions will likely continue to grow in years to come.

Scientists have so far issued countless warnings about the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions on global level in order to limit the increase in global temperatures to 2 C above pre-industrial levels.

In order to avoid this global temperature increase world needs to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 450 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide equivalent. The current levels are around 393.

Many climate scientists believe that any temperature increase of more than 2 C would produce irreversible climate damage that would completely change life on our planet.

This in other words means that the world is presently on the track for disaster. The only solution to halt climate change is major cut in greenhouse gas emissions and this cannot happen without the new climate deal.

Politicians don't seem to be able to look beyond current financial woes and don't look too much concerned about the state of our planet and the future of our children and grandchildren.

Climate change in its worst possible scenario does not only bring more frequent extreme weather events but also food and water shortages, new diseases and millions of environmental refugees.

World leaders still fail to look at the big picture, they only look at the situation today and do not care to think about what tomorrow may bring.

Climate change is the biggest environmental threat of our time and politicians are definitely not aware how high stakes are in this political game of theirs as they are toying with the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren.

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