William Atkins
Thursday, 03 July 2008 23:26
Science -
Climate
Page 1 of 3
According to a new report by the Australian National University, to keep increases in Earth's surface temperature below dangerous levels, improvements at reducing greenhouse gases must be made in Australia—and, of course, all throughout the world.
Andrew Macintosh, the associate director of the
ANU Centre for Climate Law and Policy, is the principal researcher of the study. Macintosh states that as the planet continues to increase in temperature around the globe, the ability of the Earth to absorb carbon will decrease.
Such an indirect relationship (increase global temperature ~ decrease in carbon absorbion) will cause the "rate" of temperature increase to accelerate—making it even more difficult to control global warming.
Macintosh says that the global average surface temperature must be kept
below a two degree level (Celsius) in order
“… to avoid a threshold for dangerous climate change.” [Canberra Times” “
Rudd's climate target 'will fail'”]
In fact, according to Macintosh, the ability to keep the temperature increase at three degrees (Celsius) is not possible.
According to climate scientists, if the increase in the Earth’s surface temperature is not controlled with appropriate anti-emissions measures, eventually the temperature will increase to dangerous levels.
To prevent such dangerous temperature levels to be reached, Macintosh’s team warns that improved measures must be instituted to reduce greenhouse gases.
He states that the current measures instituted by the Australian government are not adequate.
Specifically, what does Macintosh say? Please read on.
