Here's another part of the world scientific consensus on anthropogenic global warming/climate change. One of the more ridiculous of the myths that the denier cultists believe in and try to sell is the myth that carbon dioxide isn't really a greenhouse gas and doesn't really trap more heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Since the effects of excess CO2 in the air are scientifically matters of chemistry and physics, let's see what the
American Chemical Society has to say.
Global Climate Change
ACS Statement on Global Climate Change(pdf)
Summary
The ACS statement on global climate change reviews the science and recommends action on global climate issues.
ACS Position
Careful and comprehensive scientific assessments have clearly demonstrated that the Earths climate system is changing rapidly in response to growing atmospheric burdens of greenhouse gases and absorbing aerosol particles (IPCC, 2007). There is very little room for doubt that observed climate trends are due to human activities. The threats are serious and action is urgently needed to mitigate the risks of climate change.
The reality of global warming, its current serious and potentially disastrous impacts on Earth system properties, and the key role emissions from human activities play in driving these phenomena have been recognized by earlier versions of this ACS policy statement (ACS, 2004), by other major scientific societies, including the American Geophysical Union (AGU, 2003), the American Meteorological Society (AMS, 2007) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2007), and by the U. S. National Academies and ten other leading national academies of science (NA, 2005). This statement reviews key global climate change impacts and recommends actions required to mitigate or adapt to currently anticipated consequences.
Climate Change Impacts
The effects of projected unmitigated climate change on key Earth system components, ecological systems and human society over the next fifty years will be profound and, quite possibly, irreversible (IPCC, 2007). Higher surface temperatures will severely impact many land-based life forms, damaging vulnerable ecosystems and endangering key plant and animal species. Sea level is rising and the ocean is acidifying; the first threatens coastal habitations and ecosystems, the second will have profound effects on marine ecosystems. Snowfall and snowmelt patterns are changing and rainfall patterns may also be unstable, threatening fresh water supplies in vulnerable regions. Increases in severe weather events are very likely, with increasing damage due to floods, drought, and heat waves. We are, in effect, in the midst of a vast experiment with the Earths climatewith uncertain, but likely quite unpleasant, outcomes.
The costs of unchecked climate change in economic loss, human misery, and loss of ecosystem services are likely to be enormous. The United Nations Environment Programme estimated that climate change could cost world gross domestic product from $150 to $300 billion annually unless strong efforts are made by developed and developing nations to curb greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, 2002). More recently, the Stern Review suggested that: "the overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global GDP [ca. $2 trillion] each year, now and forever" (Stern, 2007). Additional costs due to climate driven increases of refugees, illness, malnutrition, and conflicts over water, energy and food resources could easily dwarf the more easily estimated GDP losses. The costs of lost ecosystem services are difficult to compute, but may ultimately threaten the planet's capacity to sustain the current, much less the projected, population density (Daily et al, 2000).
Recommendations
1. Earth Systems Science
Successfully addressing the challenges of global climate change requires enhanced understanding of Earth system dynamics. Climate change is a very complex phenomenon involving the coupled physical, chemical and biological processes affecting the atmosphere, land surfaces and the oceans. The U.S. has been a leader in Earth system and climate change research, but funding for these activities has dropped dramatically over the past five years, slowing progress in vital areas of atmospheric chemistry, dynamics and radiation transport, cloud and aerosol chemistry and physics, ocean biogeochemistry and dynamics, glacial, ice cap and sea ice dynamics, hydrology, ecology, soil microbiology, multi-scale Earth system modeling and other key disciplines. The ability to quantify trends in climate parameters and resulting impacts on geological and ecological systems will require the enhancement and maintenance of sophisticated Earth observation satellites as well comprehensive in situ atmospheric, oceanic and ecological sensor systems.
Recommendation 1 - Re-invigorate and fully fund a comprehensive U.S. research program...(go to website for the rest)
2. Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
Progress to reduce U.S. and global greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the scale and impact of accelerating climate change must start now using current technological capabilities. Opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions include enhanced fuel economy for on-road and off road vehicles, better insulated and more efficiently heated and cooled buildings, more efficient lighting, and more convenient and available mass transit.
Opportunities also exist to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion by substituting more sustainable biomass based fuels and by adopting non-combustion energy sources based on solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, or tidal power. Successful deployment of enhanced energy conservation and fossil fuel substitution technologies will be expedited by increased research and development funding and shifts in government subsidies and incentives away from fossil fuel producers and users and to energy conservation efforts and more sustainable energy sources. Coal-fueled and nuclear electrical power generation systems may also be part of CO2 reduction strategies if effective and economic means to sequester CO2 emissions from coal combustion or advanced coal processing are developed for the former and if fuel diversion, spent fuel disposal, and power plant security issues are resolved for the latter.
Successful efforts to reduce petroleum and natural gas consumption through conservation or sustainable-fuel substitution will not only reduce net CO2 emissions, but also reduce reliance on fuel sources that are increasingly insecure for both economic and geopolitical reasons. Reduction in reliance on combustion driven energy systems will also contribute to both better air quality and reduced warming.
Many opportunities exist to reduce non-CO2 greenhouse emissions, including biogenic CH4 from landfills, agriculture and other land use practices and biogenic N2O from agricultural and non-agricultural fertilizer use, air pollutant deposition and waste disposal. Geological CH4 emissions associated with natural gas, petroleum and coal production, refining and distribution can also be reduced. Key knowledge needed to design, evaluate and implement better controls for theses non-CO2 greenhouse gases is likely to come from the enhanced Earth systems research called for in Recommendation 1. Reducing CH4 emissions also reduces secondary O3 and CO2 production and reducing N2O emissions reduces stratospheric ozone depletion.
It is certain that there will be no single solution to climate change challenges. Individual technologies may make more sense in particular situations or locales (e.g., solar or wind power). Others may merit national implementation (fuel efficiency standards). With adequate R&D funding, we may also be able to develop additional novel technologies and processes to mitigate climate change. For example, success in green chemistry and nanotechnology may dramatically reduce energy and materials use in the future. Several U.S. states and major municipalities have already set significant greenhouse reduction goals and implemented steps to meet them. The federal government needs to catch up with these forward-looking regions.
Enhanced research in the fields of energy efficiency and conservation, alternative and renewable energy sources, climate change adaptation, pollution prevention, and carbon sequestration also serves other important national goals, including economic prosperity, a high quality of life, and environmental protection. Developing and deploying these technologies will likely reduce energy costs, increase productivity, improve the nations energy independence, improve air and water quality, and reduce environmental hazards, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Recommendation 2a The U.S. should immediately adopt nationwide goals for rapid and deep reductions in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions and develop effective economic drivers to achieve these goals. Options such as emission cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, or emissions taxes need to be devised, tested and implemented on a national basis. The U.S. should work closely with all major greenhouse gas emitter nations to secure their commitment to similar greenhouse gas emission reductions.
(go to website for the rest)
Copyright ©2009 American Chemical Society
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)
