I say that based on an article on something I figured for a while, but up to now had not seen an article discussing this published in a reputable journal until now.
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The American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Triple A-S" (AAAS) is a premiere scientific publication. Getting their research published here is one of the main ways scientists from a variety of fields make their reputation.
Now before I'm condemned as some kind of wingnut, let me be clear
I am NOT a global warming skeptic in any way..
Everything the scientific community has warned us all in regards to Global Warming is factually true, with no exaggeration or fudging in evidence except in the paranoid minds of conspiracy types.
What makes me decide worrying about global warming is a waste of time is summed up pretty well in this summary article in the magazine Science published by the AAAS.
Check it out...
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/04/un-goal-of-limiting-global-warmi.html?etocIf you're too busy - the bottom line of this research article is
IT'S TOO DAMN LATE to stop it. Yet very few of the people trying to stop it, realize the battle they are fighting is fruitless, because humanity at large already lost the war.
There is nothing short of stopping the release of all, 100% of greenhouse gases tomorrow that will forestall an eventual rise of 2C. I don't even think the most ardent environmentalist thinks that is possible or likely to occur.
That means we or the world and future generations WILL SEE a rise in climate of at least 2 degrees Celsius in the average world temperature, along with the global havoc such a rapid rise causes on the landmasses of the world.
That is IF we were able to stop all greenhouse gas production TOMORROW, just shut it down. We can't though.
In fact leaders of the West see only a DROP after years of rising from today's level in a decade or two.
So what does that mean?
THE TRUTH IS we cannot do a thing to stop the world from suffering an minimum of a 2C rise by next century, and we will continue to produce greenhouse gases in greater quantities for a few decades.
THE TRUTH IS for our descendents a rise in temperatures of say 5 or 6C by mid-next century IS SET IN STONE!
Neither our nor any interceding generation can do a thing to stop it.
The bright side is everyone alive today will be too dead by decades to see the result of our collective handy work.
It's our great grand children's children that will feel the brunt of it.
I think all the promotions to "do something" are distractions from what we should be focused on doing- that is if we really care about future generations and the fate of the world in general.
Wouldn't it be far better setting out finding ways for future generations to live better in the world that WILL COME rather than foolishly trying to stop it from happening when it's too late by a century or so?
Given a century lead time is probably exactly what we need to find a way to move our cities inland, help organize migrations to the new lands up north in a peaceful way rather than the ways of human history - invasions, war and genocide.
If the collective genius of humanity now focused on stopping the unstoppable - literally - instead put their mind to finding solutions how to live in a world with more people and far less resources, it is quite possible they could devise a system that would survive us all to be taken up by their children and their children's children Etc. and enable them to meet the hotter and drier world and thrive in it, not just survive.
I know it's nonsense to many, who want to believe we can stop it, but to believe is not the same as "know".
Sadly when it comes to global warming, the handiwork of our generation and all the generations from the beginning of the industrial age have already written future climate history for the next 100-150 years.
The bright side is we actually know for certain what awaits our descendents. We KNOW the future.
That means IF WE want to make it better for those who will live in the future, focusing on stopping global warming is not one of them. It is going to happen, because we are unable to do the things that might slow it down, forget about stopping it.
I'm sure 150 years on if future generations were asked to look back, they'd be far happier to see years of mankind trying to prepare them for what they will inherit, rather than fretting away precious decades trying to stop the inevitable.
Given this lead humanity could do it.
If not the future generations will just deal with it as they always have through brutal warfare.
It's just something to think about.