Yesterday, the EPA finally announced that CO2 in the atmosphere is a hazard to health, taking authority over regulating this and other greenhouse gases. Lisa Jackson, under President Obama's directives, kick-started the regulation process after the Bush administration had stonewalled, and even buried evidence after the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the EPA indeed had authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
Here's a clip of Jackson's press conference yesterday:
The serious scientific community is in consensus that CO2 is indeed the main culprit in our deteriorating atmosphere, and in the climate disruption that we have been experiencing over the last decade. Atmospheric CO2, pumped into the air primarily by burning fossil fuels, reached 357 parts per million this year, up from 280 a century ago, and is predicted to increase to over 400 ppm if not curtailed. There is also consensus that the problem is actually accelerating with catastrophic consequences if not mitigated. Deniers, clinging to Climategate, whipped up after the theft from the University of East Anglia of emails between scientists, are trying to obfuscate the climate reality by screaming about this new fake issue. At the same time, the Copenhagen talks offer little hope that a definitive agreement will be reached and expectations are that only incremental progress will be achieved.
Last night, I attended an event with world famous NASA climatologist, James Hansen who talked about his new book, Storms of My Grandchildren, about these very issues. I'll talk about that in later post today.
Here's a clip of Jackson's press conference yesterday:
The serious scientific community is in consensus that CO2 is indeed the main culprit in our deteriorating atmosphere, and in the climate disruption that we have been experiencing over the last decade. Atmospheric CO2, pumped into the air primarily by burning fossil fuels, reached 357 parts per million this year, up from 280 a century ago, and is predicted to increase to over 400 ppm if not curtailed. There is also consensus that the problem is actually accelerating with catastrophic consequences if not mitigated. Deniers, clinging to Climategate, whipped up after the theft from the University of East Anglia of emails between scientists, are trying to obfuscate the climate reality by screaming about this new fake issue. At the same time, the Copenhagen talks offer little hope that a definitive agreement will be reached and expectations are that only incremental progress will be achieved.
Last night, I attended an event with world famous NASA climatologist, James Hansen who talked about his new book, Storms of My Grandchildren, about these very issues. I'll talk about that in later post today.
So, according to Rush, this problem is THE TREES' fault. They are not doing the job they were "designed" to do. Wouldn't that responsibility ultimately fall on "the creator".
Rush you crazy bastard, you be treading on thin ice, dude.
One question for Mr. Limbaugh. If all the trees can absorb all the CO2, why has CO2 content in the air increased to 378 ppm from the 280 ppm? Eh?
I was listening to (ironically) the gasbag Limbaugh yesterday and he claimed that there is no global warming because the trees "would always absorb all the CO2 that we emit". If we we emit 5 times the CO2 we currently do, the trees will absorb 5 times what they currently do." With no supporting information to back up his "noxious emissions".
As Bob noted, with all the trees getting cut down and rainforests shrinking dramatically from human encroachment and development, and the world wide population continuing to increase, I don't see how Dr. Limbaugh "scientifically" arrived at the conclusion that the "trees will absorb 5 times what they currently do".
And this clown has 22 million "followers"? No wonder they call proudly call themselves "dittoheads". No brain necessary when spewing and parrotting crap ad nauseum.
Yes, trees take in CO2 and convert it. Not cutting down Christmas trees wouldn't help as much as not destroying millions of acres of rainforest each year.
I don't want to oversimplify this but........ if I remember my 10th grade biology, don't plants take in CO2 and give off Oxygen??????
Then it's simple.........1) quit cutting down Christmas trees and MAKE everybody switch to artificial trees. 2) mandate that everybody plant a minimum of 8 wax leaf ligustrums in their yard.
It strikes me as odd that the teabaggers and republicans are obsessed with their grandchildren's debt (seemingly they never shut up about it), yet at the same time they seem not to give a whit about what kind of environment those same grandchildren are left to inherit.