The Day That Changed The Climate/Stern Report

[RestoreGore]

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1943294.ece

By Colin Brown and Rupert Cornwell,
The London Independent, October 31, 2006.

“Climate change has been made the world's biggest priority, with the publication of a stark report showing that the planet faces catastrophe unless urgent measures are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Future generations may come to regard the apocalyptic report by Sir Nicholas Stern, a former chief economist at the World Bank, as the turning point in combating global warming, or as the missed opportunity. As well as producing a catastrophic vision of hundreds of millions fleeing flooding and drought, Sir Nicholas suggests that the cost of inaction could be a permanent loss of 20 per cent of global output... Across the world, environmental groups hailed the report as the beginning of a new era on climate change, but the White House maintained an ominous silence. However, the report laid down a challenge to the US, and other major emerging economies including China and India, that British ministers said cannot be ignored… In the Commons, Environment Secretary, David Miliband, confirmed that ministers were drawing up a Climate Change Bill, which would enshrine in law the Government's long-term target of reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050… Charlie Kronick, of Greenpeace, said… ‘There are no more excuses left, no more smokescreens to hide behind, now everybody has to back action to slash emissions, regardless of party or ideology,’ he said.


http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Independent_Reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/sternreview_index.cfm

Here is the Stern Report On Climate Change

[phantom power]

1. Colin and Rupert need a token for the clue bus.

If they think world leaders and businesses are suddenly going to see the light because the 1001st report has been published that says "hey climate change is really really really caused by human activity, and by the way it's going to fuck all of our shit up," they're in for a big disappointment.

[Nihil]

2. True but ...

... every one who opens their eyes is one more shoulder to the wheel
and one less pig-ignorant road-block. More so when they are journalists
read by a good-sized chunk of the general public as their "conversion"
is more likely to influence others in turn.

If it means that people turn down their central heating thermostats then
it is good.

If it means that more lofts, walls, hot-water tanks are insulated, then
it is good.

If it means that more households convert to CFLs instead of incandescent
lamps then it is good.

If it means that more citizens question or, better still, pressure their
MPs to do the right thing then it is good.

I think that the only way that we will get serious political action on
the environment is not to hope that the Green party will get in (it is
running very behind in the UK) but that enough voting pressure is put
on the sitting MPs to act for the planet and act for the future.

Don't worry, I'm just in a "grateful for small mercies" mood at the
moment - my "the sooner this planet is cleansed the better" mood
will return in due course ...
:hi: