250 scientists reveal critical results

OSF · Nov 8, 2004

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=70ab2abf-234b-4d93-b48a-46f476dd7249

Global warming severest in Arctic: study

Bob Weber
canada.com

Monday, November 08, 2004

EDMONTON (CP) -- A comprehensive scientific study of the Arctic climate has confirmed what Canadian Dene and Inuit have been saying for years: the North is melting, and faster all the time.

Released Monday, the four-year study produced by 250 scientists from eight circumpolar countries concludes that global warming is affecting the Arctic more heavily than any other region on earth.

"Earth's climate is changing, with the global temperature now rising at a rate unprecedented in the experience of modern human society," says the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report.

"These climate changes are being experienced particularly intensely in the Arctic."

The long-awaited report, to be discussed at this month's meeting in Iceland of the eight-country Arctic Council, lists 10 key findings:

-- Arctic climate changes will affect the rest of the world, as the melting of highly reflective snow and ice increases the overall heat absorption of the planet and glacial meltwater raises the sea levels and disrupts ocean currents.

-- The treeline will move northward.

-- Habitat for marine animals will shrink, threatening some species such as polar bears with extinction by the end of the century, while other species will move north. Arctic fisheries may become more productive.

-- Coastal communities will face increasing erosion from heavier storm seasons and melting permafrost.

-- Reduced sea ice could lead to heavier marine traffic and increased access to some resources.

-- Thawing permafrost will damage northern roads, buildings and infrastructure.

-- Aboriginal lifestyles will face major economic and cultural adjustments.

-- Increased ultraviolet radiation will affect people, animals and plants, with the current Arctic generation expected to receive about 30 per cent more UV than their mothers and fathers.

-- Climate change is occurring in a context of increasing chemical pollution, land overuse and population increases.

The report is full of alarming statistics.

Temperatures in Canada's western Arctic have already increased by three to four degrees Celsius over the last 50 years, with larger increases projected. Snow cover across the Arctic has decreased by about 10 per cent over the last three decades, with another 10-20 per cent decline expected.

Permafrost has warmed up by by two degrees, with the depth to which this warming occurs increasing. The southern permaforst limit is expected to shift northward by hundreds of kilometres this century.

The last 30 years has seen sea ice cover decline by 15 to 20 per cent. The area of melting of the Greenland ice cap broke all previous records last year and Alaskan glaciers have retreated so rapidly they make up about half the glacier melting for the entire world.

Despite the attention likely to be focused on the report, little of it will come as a surprise to the Inuvialuit, Dene and Inuit of Canada's North.

From Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories, where melting permafrost is washing a community into the ocean, to Baffin Island, where elders can no longer predict weather or follow ancient hunting routes, they are already living with climate change.

The member countries of the Arctic Council -- Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland -- officially receive the report on Tuesday at their meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The council's official response is expected on Nov. 24.

Most climate scientists believe global warming is at least hastened by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are produced in the burning of fossil fuels, the source of about 80 per cent of the world's energy.
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green_thumb · Nov 9, 2004

I heard this on NPR today. It is very distressing. Nothing I didn't know about before, but every time it is reaffirmed, it is troubling.

BlackGuardXIII · Nov 9, 2004

thanx for the important info.

LiquidPeppermint · Nov 9, 2004

i really dont hear any good news about the environment anymore...
thank god we have bush in office hes sure to put an end to that

OSF · Nov 25, 2004

article found here: http://north.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/arctic-climate-co-11252004.html

EYKJAVIK, Iceland - Canada's environment minister says people shouldn't underestimate the policy recommendations on climate change announced in Iceland Wednesday.

Many have called the recommendations approved by the Arctic Council vague and will lead to little action to slow global warming or help people adapt.

But Stephane Dion says for the first time, the United States has joined with other countries on a climate change issue, and he says it's a good first step.

All eight ministers with the Arctic Council stood united in voicing their support for the policy recommendations on Wednesday, after their one-day meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland.

That's despite dissent amongst the nations in past months over their wording.

In the end, a few ministers said it was the best declaration that could be adopted, at this time.

U.S. Undersecretary for Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky sought to dismiss the perception that the recommendations were not as strong because of the U.S.

The U.S. is the only Arctic country that hasn't ratified the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Dobriansky says the U.S. provided about $2 million of the $3 million needed for the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, and has put $5.8 billion into projects linked to climate change.

"Our government will take the Arctic Council impact assessment findings into account as we continue to respond to the change of global climate change," she said.

Federal environment minister Stephane Dion says ***the U.S. is starting to recognize the strong link between climate and human-induced pollution.***

He believes the agreement on the recommendations marks a shift in U.S. policy.

"The fact that Paula Dobriansky came and accepted to sign the document is a very, very good step. you would not have seen that in the past," he said.

Many indigenous groups and environmentalists were disappointed the Arctic nations didn't make a strong call to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

They say with the rapid changes happening in the North, the Arctic Council missed an opportunity to call for global action on climate change.
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Overall the article seems skeptical.

What should be most noted is the idea that the US is starting to recognize the relationship between gas emission and climate.

Once that debate is settled, the real solution can finally be enacted.

This is a good first step towards finally cleaning this planet up, as the article says.

psilonaut · Nov 25, 2004

Global warming is a crock.

jivre · Nov 29, 2004

19831993

http://amap.no/workdocs/index.cfm?dirsub=/ACIA/overview
http://www.arctic-council.org/index.htmlArctic
http://arctic.unep.net/
http://www.cases.quebec-ocean.ulaval.ca/cases_fr/welcome.asp
http://www.acia.uaf.edu/

psilonaut · Nov 30, 2004

Seeing as I am receving anonymous negative rep for my comment, here
is somthing to back it up. Check this out too.

jivre · Dec 1, 2004

United-Statians, you can found a lot of petrol-made politicians, and scientist
mercenarys for validate your sacred lifestyle, boosted on war, drugs, and
poisons economies, but is there a planet around you.

Don't feel concerned about that, but your insinuations about the interest of
activists and scientists of rest of the world in global climatic changes make
fear for money) is really not fair. You do psyco-projection. Is your politic
strategies since XXth centurie to make fear for power and money.

I live with minimum, sometime outdoor and growing my food, I don't receive
money for be careful of my mother earth. You're the biggest and you need
machines for keeping a shape. You need machine for transport you at the
corner. What's the joke?

Sometime i think your "arguments" for protecting your fatness and your
energetic bulimia is not serious. World scientist community, Worls activists
and environmentalists, and citizens who vote for reduction of pollution, are all
acting for money by jalousy?

Common..

Continue, if you want, you are free, this absurd eating of the Life, but don't
try to justify yourself by fraudulous scientist arguments, or to accusate
people who try to let a better world for all is living today and tomorrow.

We are in the same family, with all animals, plants, and rest of life, in a
splendid universe, we are brother and sister, man, don't feel protector or
detested in this world. It can be a world of love.

We can live in peace. but a minimum of fairplay is needed.

http://www.mindfully.org/Air/2004/Pentagon-Climate-Change22feb04.htm

TODAY:

I am right, little boy, to abuse of good things,
and petrol is a good thing to busness

"There are no real proof (in U.S.A clubs) that higher
frequency of inondations, drought, and epidemies in your
village is in part caused by higher dose of carbon monoxid in the
athmosphere. So I AM RIGHT! I Am RIGHT! I Am RIGHT!
WEEEEE ARE THE CHAMPIONS...." buuurp!

Tomorrow:

Hey, kid, when I was young, some white bears was existing,
somewere in the north. But it was ugly, hairy, ferocious and
inutil. this one is more cool and fine! And Better for us! He
plays hokey,he drinks coke, he is O.K.

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250 scientists reveal critical results

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250 scientists reveal critical results

OSF Señor ******

green_thumb kill your T.V.

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OSF Señor ******

psilonaut Mushroom Muncher

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