Carbon dioxide levels already a danger (CNN) {MFTE update}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Matthew Knight
For CNN

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A team of international scientists led by Dr James Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, say that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are already in the danger zone.

Concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere currently stand at 385 parts per million (ppm) and are rising at a rate of two ppm per year. This is enough, say the scientists, to encourage dangerous changes to the Earth's climate.

As a result we risk expanding desertification, food shortages, increased storm intensities, loss of coral reefs and the disappearance of mountain glaciers that supply water to hundreds of millions of people.

The report, "Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?" appears in the latest edition of the Open Atmosphere Science Journal and brings together the expertise of ten scientists from the United States, the UK and France.

It is a departure from the previous climate estimates which predict that perilous CO2 levels will be reached later in the century.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/11/21/climate.danger.zone/index.html

[Deja Q]

1. Planting more trees and developing technologies analogue to that of photosynthesis...

Surely neither is that difficult?

Right now it poses and increased risk, but it's not doomsday yet -- plenty of time to do what it takes to put things right, without farking up the economy either.

[pscot]

4. Will we recognize Doomsday when it shows up?

I think the bell is tolling for us now. I've planted trees wherever I've lived. It doesn't seem to have helped all that much.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Obama had better get his ass over to this side of the equation and start solving

else all he saves will be for naught...

[quidam56]

3. BUSHED ! Third World Appalachia, USA

While we are making hurricanes which blow down big cities so we can go in and rebuild better and stronger than every. We in Appalachia are loosing our home too with a rapid pace of shock and awe, dynamiting the tops off mountains to get it's black diamonds then leaving hurricane level destruction but no one is coming to help re-build The Appalachian Mountains. We are Third World America. http://www.wisecountyissues.com