In spite of political apathy in Washington — and a disturbing lack of recent concern from the general public — climate scientists keep calling for urgent steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
A new, 19-page report from SF’s ClimateWorks Foundation lays out the issue in understandable terms, offering a clear explanation why scientists keep pressing the matter. Basically, the report argues that by delaying action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we’re running out of time to deal with the issue. The Earth’s “carbon budget” is being pushed to its outer limits, and if we don’t act soon, we will lose our ability to influence the outcome.
“At the current emissions rate, the world will burn through its carbon budget in 20 years,” says the report.
It’s a tersely written, easy-to-understand document. Definitely worth a read. Download it here.
(via NYT Green)
Photo: Castle Gate Plant, a coal-fired power facility near Helper, Utah, in 2007. (David Jolley / Wikimedia Commons)