Brutal logic of climate change

If we want to keep global temperature rise below two centigrade we should be slowing down the rate at which we pump CO2 into the atmosphere. Instead the rate has been increasing over the past years. Looks like we are heading at six degrees now. Sadly, that is not a stable level but just a number on the way to an equilibrium at a much higher level in a future which is quite different than present. At least that is the message in the article
http://grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-05-the-brutal-logic-of-climate-change/ citing reputable research on climate change. Something should be done. Soon.

sinking flooding Asian cities

Current land management practices in several Asia metropolises are increasing the risks of serious flooding

http://www.economist.com/node/21550322

Groundwater Dropping Globally

The GRACE twin satellites measuring small variations in the gravitation field of Earth have been able to establish that in many places around the world human use of ground water is at unsustainable level and depleting the ancient water reservoirs http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337097/title/Groundwater_dropping_globally

Increasing need of energy in Asia pushing CO2 emissions up

Coal being cheap but dirty source of energy is being used increasingly by the industrial powers China and India and others pushing CO2 emissions up to levels forcing global temperature beyond the critical two centigrade mark. That seems almost unavoidable according to an article in The Economist.  http://www.economist.com/node/21548237

Oil price rise due to Iran uncertainty raises specter of global recession |

According to Reuters the uncertainty on Iran's nuclear program and Israel's reactions are driving up price of oil - possibly all the way up to causing global recession. Actually, had first hand reminder today when pondering the price of petrol when filling up at gas station today.   http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/26/us-oil-recession-idUSTRE81P0JA20120226

Left vs. Right in science

Appears there are differences between Democrats and Republicans which impact their respective views on scientific data and results. This may explain why there are relatively small number of  Republican scientists. http://www.alternet.org/story/154252/the_republican_brain%3A_why_even_educated_conservatives_deny_science_--_and_reality?page=entire

Eco Shock, this week Arctic Emergency - sea ice, carbon ,methane and rising global temperatures

Very interesting and up to date (as much as I can tell) podcast of Radio Eco Shock on Arctic Emergency - sea ice, carbon ,methane and rising global temperatures http://www.ecoshock.info/2012_02_01_archive.html interviewing some top notch scientists. Chilling stuff on our warming planet, on tipping points some of which we may have passed already and some we are uncomfortably close.