James Hansen again
Posted: 18 Sep 2013, 21:37
http://m.rsta.royalsocietypublishing.or ... 20294.full
and
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/0 ... habitable/
and
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/0 ... habitable/
The key findings are
The Earth’s actual sensitivity to a doubling of CO2 levels from preindustrial levels (to 550 ppm) — including slow feedbacks — is likely to be larger than 3–4°C (5.4-7.2°F).
Given that we are headed towards a tripling (820 ppm) or quadrupling (1100 ppm) of atmospheric CO2 levels, inaction is untenable.
“Burning all fossil fuels” would warm land areas on average about 20°C (36°F) and warm the poles a stunning 30°C (54°F). This “would make most of the planet uninhabitable by humans, thus calling into question strategies that emphasize adaptation to climate change.”
Burning all or even most fossil fuels would be a true scorched Earth policy.