Climate Change Is Biggest Health Threat Of 21st Century: Report

Daily Mail:

Climate change is the biggest health threat of the 21st century, leading academics claimed last night.

Those who fail to take the issue seriously are as morally reprehensible as 18th-century slave traders, they said.

Read the whole story: Daily Mail

Comments

[vie2012ne]

"as morally reprehensible as 18th-century slave traders" - this is the sort or hyperbole that is needed when the data don't fit your arguments, but you want to get rich off AGW hysteria anyway.

[realpolitic]

According to NY Times....

Global warming conjures images of rising seas that threaten coastal areas. But in Juneau, as almost nowhere else in the world, climate change is having the opposite effect: As the glaciers here melt, the land is rising, causing the sea to retreat

The land is ascending so fast that the rising seas — a ubiquitous byproduct of global warming — cannot keep pace. As a result, the relative sea level is falling, at a rate “among the highest ever recorded,” according to a 2007 report by a panel of experts convened by Mayor Bruce Botelho of Juneau.

As the sea level falls relative to the land, water tables fall, too, and streams and wetlands dry out.

“The lifeblood of our region has been salmon species and their return — and what is the impact when they return and the streams are dry?” said Mayor Botelho, who was born and raised in Juneau. “The salmon is bound to our identity as a region, who we are.”


But for Ms. White, who has vivid memories of visiting the Mendenhall glacier as a child, the gain in acreage has been bittersweet. Seeing the glacier retreat, she said, is “as if you lived in the Smoky Mountains and you were used to seeing certain peaks — and they disappeared. It’s just totally, totally sad.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/science/earth/18juneau.html?hp

[fumes]

good article huh rp? now what is taking out the ice: our CO2 or our soot or just nature? hmm..

[OneVoiceInACrowd]

Im heading there today Fumes, shall I take some measurements for you? gonna be a quick trip and I'll be back weds. I'll let you know what I uncover....

[realpolitic]

Both fumes. CO2 as a greenhouse gas causes temperatures to rise (not incrementally), which causes the ice to melt and makes it more difficult for the ice to form in the next year. Over time, we lose ice mass. The soot lays on the ice like a dirty blanket and lowers the albedo, which also causes the ice to melt. Betweeen the two, the odds are stacked against the ice. I say we should have policies addressing co2 and soot. Of course, the politics are difficult. What about you? You think the culprit is soot!

[Richard2]

So if the coast of Alaska is rising, then global warming is the cause? The New York Times is being lazy in its logic again! Blame every unusual event on Global Warming! It may be that some of the rise in Alaskan land is due to the melting of the ice sheet that covered the area during the last ice age, but if true, this process has been underway for 10,000 years, and is not caused by the recent acts of mankind.

The idea that man-made global warming is somehow the cause of all the great geologic changes that occur on the earth is simply untrue.

Are there any geographers or geologics out there who could expand on why the western part of Alaska is rising, causing the coastal villages and harbors to rise up above the seas?

[realpolitic]

"So if the coast of Alaska is rising, then global warming is the cause?" Well, only if you believe scientists as opposed to far-right, Exxon-funded websites. Also, the NY TImes is not being lazy in any logic. They are simply reporting what scientists say, such as Bruce Molnia, a geologist at the United States Geological Survey who studies Alaskan glaciers.

Well, Richard2 makes one true statement that the process of retreating ice has been underway for 10,000 of years, but he parts company with scientists when he insists that the recent startling retreat is not caused by human's releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

As the article states, according to a 2007 report by a panel of experts convened by Mayor Bruce Botelho of Juneau, "The geology is complex, but it boils down to this: Relieved of billions of tons of glacial weight, the land has risen much as a cushion regains its shape after someone gets up from a couch. The land is ascending so fast that the rising seas — a ubiquitous byproduct of global warming — cannot keep pace. As a result, the relative sea level is falling, at a rate “among the highest ever recorded.”"

[Richard2]

A timely new article by Jon Birger, reprinted at CNN/Money, and originally from Fortune magazine, is entitled:

"What if Global Warming Fears are Overblown?"

This is a serious article that should be reposted at the Huffington Post.

[realpolitic]

While he now acknowledges that global warming is real and the human contribution is significant, Christy has been a long-time skeptic who previously argued that satellite climate data do not show a trend toward global warming, and even show cooling in some areas. His findings have been widely disputed. Christy now asserts that global warming will have beneficial effects on the planet and that increased CO2 emissions from human activities are a net positive.

http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=903

Christy now says: ""Human activities are increasingly altering Earth's climate, and that natural influences alone cannot explain the rapid increase in surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century."

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_R._Christy

His most controversial argument is that the surface temperature readings upon which global warming theory is built have been distorted by urbanization. Christy's argument has been widely debunked. "It's well established that urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas. However, does Urban Heat Island (UHI) contribute to the global warming trend? Short answer, no. Two thirds of global temperature data comes from ocean records, free of UHI effect. For land records, urban trends are compared to nearby rural data - anomalous urban trends are homogenized to match rural records (Hansen 2001). However, in most cases, the urban temperature trend is observed to be little different to the rural trend"

http://www.skepticalscience.com/Does-Urban-Heat-Island-effect-add-to-the-global-warming-trend.html

[realpolitic]

Christy then states: "The only way to control for such surface distortions is by measuring atmospheric temperatures. And when Christy and his co-researcher Roy Spencer began analyzing temperature readings from NOAA and NASA satellites, they found much slighter increases in atmospheric temperatures than what was being recorded on the surface."

However, since then a flaw has been found in the satellite tmeperature readings. "Scientists have detected an error in satellite records of Earth's temperature--a discovery that could help resolve one of the thorniest controversies in climate studies.

"It strengthens the case for global warming," says Frank J. Wentz, a physicist who discovered the error."

"The flaw artificially depressed atmospheric temperature readings, thereby masking signs of increasing air temperatures, according to Wentz, both at Remote Sensing Systems. The error arises from changes in the satellites' orbits, they report in the August 13 Nature."

"John R. Christy, who analyzes the MSU data, acknowledges the orbit problem. "The orbit decay effect is real. It has now been removed. But because of compensating factors, it does not change the data set by much," he says."

"Dian J. Gaffen of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration points out that current satellite instruments and balloon networks were fashioned for gauging weather day to day. To track temperature trends more accurately over decades, researchers need much more sophisticated arrangements, she says."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n7_v154/ai_21071460/

[OneVoiceInACrowd]

Nice rebuttal RP

[epenstien]

Another Crisis created by the STATISTS,and Democrats.GE will make billions off CAP and TRADE.Our energy costs will go up between $400 and $1400 dollares.In Socialism,all the money goes to the Gov. and Big Business,then we get what they say we do.

[Loompa]

What a load of leftist pap - glabal warming is a total fraud!

[burtmckinly]

Tax fat!

[Richard2]

Leading academics say those who disagree are as morally reprehensible as 18th Century slave traders? This gross statement is as tasteless and false as Dr. Hansen comparing modern trains carrying coal to power plants to death camp trains in WWII.

Where is the science in this article? Where are the observations of nature, and the analyses of the data? Where is the objective discussion of possible objections to the theory of antropogenic global warming?

Lawyers have a saying, that when you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When your opponents have the facts on their side, simply attack your opponents. It is clear that the most vocal supporters of anthropogenic global warming don't think they have the facts on their side.

[jimrs6]

There is no verifiable science behind the Global Warming scare. It's a political movement.

[timezone]

Then why do the vast bulk of respected scientists, worldwide, say it does, Jim? Or do you feel you know more than they do? I hope you and Richard have both done YOUR homework and are really sure it DOESN'T exist. Of course, you and Richard or any of us, won't be around to really enjoy it's benefits, if, like the majority of scientists say, Global Warming does exist. The joke wouldn't be on you, but on future generations.

[realpolitic]

Richard2, why should the press give the climate denial argument equal balance when it is a position taken by almost no climate scientists? Climate scientists say they are certain to a likelihood of 90% that man-made greenhouse gases are causing the warming that we are experiencing. It is like saying when the Holocaust is talked about on the news, equal time should be given to Holocaust deniers.

Richard2 has no facts so he argues he is under attack. But scientists link climate change to the greater frequency of severe weather events, like the French heat wave that killed over 3,000. They link warmer weather with an increased risk of diseases spread by insects. According to the Baylor College of Medicine, "Climate change is increasingly becoming a concern as a factor in the emergence of infectious diseases." Agriculture is vulnerable. "The study, based on government and university data, projects rising temperatures will reduce yields of the nation's biggest crop by 3 percent in the Midwest, compared to projected yields without further global warming." Warming is tied to flooding rains. "Scientists studying variations in tropical heat and rainfall since the mid-1980s have found a strong link between warm periods and a rise in the frequency of the most extreme downpours."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061902171.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-global-warm-corn_friapr10,0,3489947.story?track=rss

http://www.imwr.com/issues/articles/2007-11_02.asp

[Richard2]

Here are a few facts.

The earth's temperature declined by only 1 degree C. during the 19th century. The earth's temperature increased by only 1 degree C during the 20th century. So at the start of the 21st Century, we were at roughly the same temperature level as 200 years ago.

Since 1998, most measurements of the earth's temperature indicate no warming or a slight cooling in the earth's temperature.

Since 1998, several measurements of climate features have shifted from a warming trend to a stable or cooling trend. The oceans have stopped warming. The rate of sea level increase has slowed down, and the global sea ice level is above the average of 1979 to 2000. These changes would appear to suggest a cooling climate in the near future.

Since over the past 210 years, global warming was not the biggest health threat facing the human race, and given that global warming is not occuring right now, there appears no logical reason to suggest that global warming will be the biggest health threat in the 21st Century.

[JnrNorman]

The Climate modeling computer and its software were bogus according to people that worked on the project. CO2 isnt more of a greenhouse gas than oxgen or nitrogen.



Bloomberg's lies to NYC FireFighters;
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/616.html

[BrettnCalgary]

http://www.grist.org/article/climate-models-are-unproven

You must be a brand new denial tr0ll, fresh off the production line.

[Tim303]

The reason why conservatives are global warming deniers is simple. To even admit that it might be occurring is to admit that reality is not hardwired for individualism, that small things we do add up to huge consequences and that there is a big picture out there that only an entire society (and then some) acting in unison can sort out. Game over for rugged individualism, no?

[realpolitic]

Yes, exactly! They want to argue the pursuit of individualism and self-interest is the highest good. They can not handle that when we all pursue our individual self-interest the result may be very harmful for the environment, So to protect their basic philosophy they have to create all kinds of mind-numbing arguments that the science of climate change is invalid or a hoax or just done to make Al Gore rich! They have a crazy position, but they stick with it with the tenacity only seen by conservatives trying to protect their ideology.

[jimrs6]

Dogs and cats living together!

[BabblingBrooks]

This is clearly fabrication, supposition, not rooted in reality.

First, the climate has been changing for eons and we're still here.

Second, the climate warms and it cools. Right now it looks to be cooling and an ice age may be more likely in the future than a warming trend.

Third, what can we do about the climate anyway? We have no methodology which can affect it one iota if we wanted to!

Stop the panic attacks! Give valium to all the hysterical "academics1"

[realpolitic]

BabblingBrooks has just countered climate change science with just a few words! He said: "Right now it looks to be cooling and an ice age may be more likely in the future than a warming trend." He may have even looked out of the window before he made that pronouncement. I guess all those pesky climate scientists can go home now. Case closed!
Conservative anti-intel­lectualism wins again!

[fumes]

hey rp, i normally turn the furnace off for the season by now but it's still too cold to do so.

and the canals froze over again in amsterdam this winter for the first time in years.

[friedfish2718]

antarctic ice extent:
http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/current.365.south.jpg
currently 1,000,000 km2 above 1979-2000 average

arctic ice extent:
http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/seaice/extent/AMSRE_Sea_Ice_Extent.png
currently the greatest since 2002

another view of the arctic ice extent:
http://eva.nersc.no/vhost/arctic-roos.org/doc/observations/images/ssmi1_ice_area.png

[dandypuddin]

Ding. Ding. We have a winner for the most ignorant post of the day!

[American50]

Climate Change Is Biggest "AL Gore" joke of the entire world
and he has made millions from it..........How wonderful

[realpolitic]

Well, how do he think of something so diabolical? And he convinced a solid consensus of climate scientists to go along with his scheme. He is indeed Dr. Evil!

[dandypuddin]

Yes, I do think winning the Nobel Prize for dedicating your life to helping mankind and the planet does pay a million dollars. *sigh* Who says doing good doesn't pay too sometimes?

[elmerfude]

Why did that ice shelf in Antarctica get a big crack in it recently? Al Gore flew over in his jet and dumped out some deicer. It is part of his plot to make money.

[realpolitic]

Funny!

[martyology]

THE ABSOLUTE LAUGHABLE ABSURDITY OF GLOBAL WARMING BEING CAUSED BY PUNY MANKIND. if the self centered, self absorbed proponents of GB would step outside of their spheres of self importance and look around, they would notice that the earth is covered by TWO THIRDS WATER, we barely inhabit the planet, and one half of that population that does inhabit 35% of the remaining land mass have never placed or recieved a telephone call in their lifetime (i doubt theyre adding to any problem). The earth barely knows we're here (if at all).The earth has changed its climate hundreds of times over many millions of years, every desert was once a tropical forest, Every forest was once a wasteland, how'd that happen without almighty man huh? THE CLIMATE SOMETIMES CHANGES ON A SPINNING ROCK WITH A BOILING HOT MOLTEN CORE OF LAVA REVOLVING AROUND A 2000 DEGREE STAR..GO FIGURE HUH?.Puny man is in capable of (use deep dramatic echo voice here) "CHANGING THE CLIMATE OF THE EARTH" We did not affect the timless perfection of the universe in a micro, teenie weenie, itsy bitsy, non measurable lousy 100 years of some putt putt cars and chimneys, how absurd.Man just isnt that relevant to the timeless perfection of the universe. If the ice caps are melting its because all knowing earth wants them to.It seems that everybody who shoving GB down a niave publics throat is selling a book ar profiting...no GB HYSTERIA...no book sales..

[realpolitic]

Why study the earth at all? Now we know that whatever happens is only because the earth wants it to! And conservatives argue they do not hold science in disdain!

[timezone]

So all the scientists have it wrong and you have it right, marty. Glad that's settled then.

[elmerfude]

So little old mankind isn't that important after all. I hope the creationists don't get on your case for such blasphemy.

[burtmckinly]

Hey, what about the raging obesity pandemic?

[ConservativeHippie]

We need to be storing up fat reserves for the time when climate change makes food scarce.

[dgscol]

You're right and part of this is caused by the bodies response to toxins/added drugs in food. This is a serious pandemic no one cares about.

[BabblingBrooks]

It couldn't be caused by laziness, easy access to a lot of cheap food, labor-saving devices that make work EASY, etc., etc., could it?

[burtmckinly]

Would placing heavy taxes on excess fat and/or fatty foods be unreasonable?

[realpolitic]

The die-off of coral reefs will surely result in a decrease in fish populations, on which we are dependent.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/warming-coral.html

Pests will get even peskier. Under attack from pine beetles that are thriving in a warmer climate, the beetles ravaged 130,000 square kilometres of forest in western Canada

http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0805/full/climate.2008.35.html


Food prices will soar. "Global warming could sock Illinois right in the Corn Belt—to the tune of $243 million a year, a national environmental group estimated in a report released Thursday."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-global-warm-corn_friapr10,0,3489947.story?track=rss

Droughts in Africa will become even wider spread. "The size of [Africa's] land mass, means that in the middle of the continent, overall rises in temperature will be up to double the global rise, with increased risk of extreme droughts, floods and outbreaks of disease."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivier-kamanda/climate-change-changes-mo_b_171969.html


Melting mountaintop glaciers will reduce water supplies for hundreds of millions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/19/glacier-rising-sea-levels


Tropical diseases will continue to migrate north. "Nearly 300 cases of mosquito-borne chikungunya fever have been reported in Italy—where only isolated cases of the virus had been seen in the past. "

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/11/071129-AP-europe-fever.html

And so it goes......

[fumes]

''Melting mountaintop glaciers will reduce water supplies for hundreds of millions.''

ya think our soot might be melting those mountaintop glaciers rp?

[realpolitic]

Yes, I think soot is a factor, as the scientists tell you it is. But, believe it or not Fumes, many things in these world are multifaceted and have more than a single cause and effect. Most things are a factor of multiple regression and not simple regression.

[elmerfude]

My theory is it's caused by Paul Bunyan taking a tinkle.

[dgscol]

You could spend 100 trillion dollars and nothing would appreciably modify the climate cycle. In fact, money creates activity and activity means a tiny bit more heat.. might as well think about solar activity causing increased radiation levels. We ought to do those things we can - like put barriers in front of spreading disease (basic biology), stop huge agribusiness that creates substandard food, improve the quality of all ingestable commodites and manufactured goods that occupy our environment.

We can also stop over-fishing, that threatens to exterminate food stocks from a few major species. Without management, people will just over harvest and then move on somewhere else.

[realpolitic]

Well protecting against over-fishing and the other things you mentioned are certainly good ideas.

[BabblingBrooks]

And what happens when all the ice cream melts and makes the aisles in the foodmart slippery? We'll all fall down and break our necks!

[realpolitic]

Just eat the ice cream faster! And by the way, don't open a science book. There might be a giant spider in there that will bite you!