How Does Climate Change 'Work'?
Certain gases are labeled as GHG's (Greenhouse Gases) because instead of allowing the sun's rays to cut through them, they refract, and redirect the sun's rays back down towards the earth, instead of allowing them to be reflected of of the ocean and travel back into outer space. The more 'GHGs' there are in the upper atmosphere, the less light waves leave it, and the core temperature of the earth rises. We can see signs of this in extreme weather patters, receding polar ice caps, and temperature mapping.
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64.4% of the effects of climate change are due to CO2 output, and Methane is responsible for 17%. There are a couple other gases labeled as "GHGs", but for the sake of brevity I should focus on these. We have kept a journal of the earth's temperatures since 1880, the "Industrial Age". Since then, we have seen the earth's core temperature increase by 1.1 C., and based on what we know about the ecosystem, have established certain 'limits'.
One such limit was set by Johan Rockstrom, who led a team of 28 scientists in 2009 to set a "safe limit" of 350 ppm (parts/million). This safe limit was acknowledged by several noteworthy climatologists, including those associated with '350.org', whose name is derived from that figure. Another limit, a "no-passing" zone of 450 ppm was marked by Energy Technology Perspectives, who laid out a 14-point plan to remain under this mark, including ideas on removing carbon from the atmosphere, and recycling it. Finally, The aptly-named "Stern Review" gave a stop-sign figure of 550 ppm, calling it the "upper boundary"; A figure which assumes a core rise in global temperatures of 3 degrees C, a full degree higher than the accepted limit. Bear in mind that as of December we have passed 405 ppm, and still cannot agree that this is an issue.
One such limit was set by Johan Rockstrom, who led a team of 28 scientists in 2009 to set a "safe limit" of 350 ppm (parts/million). This safe limit was acknowledged by several noteworthy climatologists, including those associated with '350.org', whose name is derived from that figure. Another limit, a "no-passing" zone of 450 ppm was marked by Energy Technology Perspectives, who laid out a 14-point plan to remain under this mark, including ideas on removing carbon from the atmosphere, and recycling it. Finally, The aptly-named "Stern Review" gave a stop-sign figure of 550 ppm, calling it the "upper boundary"; A figure which assumes a core rise in global temperatures of 3 degrees C, a full degree higher than the accepted limit. Bear in mind that as of December we have passed 405 ppm, and still cannot agree that this is an issue.
Further reading? Check out this page on skepticalscience.com
The Crisis At Hand
565 GT (GigaTons) more CO2 can be emitted before we reach the accepted 'safe limit' of 2 degrees Celsius. To stay under this accepted safe limit, we cannot pass that 565 GT limit before 2050. At the present rate, we will reach 565 GT by the year 2028. Bear in mind also that we currently have enough fossil fuels in the world's reserves that, if burned, would result in 2,795 GT of carbon being released into the atmosphere- or, enough to raise the core temperature of the earth by 4-6 degrees C. This is unacceptable. We continue to not only burn fossil fuels limitlessly, but continue to seek out further prospects for drilling. This is what capitalism does. It will continue to expand, externalizing it's costly effects on the biosphere, while internalizing and multiplying its profits. Capitalism is not a system that inherently avoids social or biological harm. Due to the expansionary nature of capitalism, development only serves to multiply production, and accumulate capital by whatever means necessary. Therefore any respectable discussion on reversing the effects of climate change should be directly met with a discussion of capitalism. Industry continues to rape the earth in the name of commodity, relentlessly assaulting the biosphere and the ecosystems which rely on it. If capitalism is not bridled, it will soon be too late. Capitalism cannot be bridled. For these reasons, socializing the energy sector may be the only viable solution.