This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/world-must-turn-from-fossil-fuels-to-cleaner-energy-to-avoid-climate-disaster-panel-says/2014/04/13/21bd2144-c273-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
World must turn from fossil fuels to cleaner energy to avoid climate disaster, panel says U.N. climate panel: Governments must do more in face of dire global-warming threats
(35 minutes later)
The amount of global greenhouse gas emissions soared to “unprecedented levels” over the decade ending in 2010, the world’s top climate scientists said Sunday, and now governments must act aggressively to lower emissions or face the most dangerous consequences of global warming.The amount of global greenhouse gas emissions soared to “unprecedented levels” over the decade ending in 2010, the world’s top climate scientists said Sunday, and now governments must act aggressively to lower emissions or face the most dangerous consequences of global warming.
At a meeting in Berlin, the scientists released an authoritative report showing that emissions from human development increased more between 2000 and 2010 than each of the previous three decades. It is a clear sign, they said, that current government policies aimed at reducing carbons and staving off warming are failing. At a meeting in Berlin, the scientists released an authoritative report showing that emissions from human development increased more between 2000 and 2010 than in each of the previous three decades. It is a clear sign, they said, that government policies aimed at reducing carbons and staving off warming are failing.
To have any chance of limiting an increase in the mean global temperature to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century, a relatively low target negotiated by governments, world leaders must act aggressively to deploy clean air technologies with the goal of lowering emissions “by 40 to 70 percent” of what they were in 2010. To have any chance of limiting an increase in the mean global temperature to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century, a relatively low target negotiated by governments, world leaders must act aggressively to deploy clean-air technologies with the goal of lowering emissions “by 40 to 70 percent” of what they were in 2010.
Without strong action, nations will start to face the most debilitating effects of global warming — rapidly melting arctic ice, significant sea-level rise, flooding and storms — by the end of this century. Without strong action, nations will start to face the most debilitating effects of global warming — rapidly melting arctic ice, significant sea-level rise, flooding and storms — by the end of this century.
“There is a clear message from science: To avoid dangerous interference with the climate system, we need to move away from business as usual,” said Ottmar Edenhofer of Germany, a co-chair of the group that produced the 2,000-page report. “There is a clear message from science: To avoid dangerous interference with the climate system, we need to move away from business as usual,” said Germany’s Ottmar Edenhofer, a co-chair of the group that produced the 2,000-page report.
In a weeklong meeting that was riven with disagreements between developing and industrialized nations, there was lessening expectation that the world can meet the challenge. In a week-long meeting riven with disagreements between developing and industrialized nations, there was lessening expectation that the world can meet the challenge.
Saudi Arabia objected to language in the 500-page executive summary calling for the lowering of emissions by 40 to 70 percent, according to an Associated Press report from Berlin, fearing its impact on oil sales. Other media outlets reported that industrial nations and developing nations bickered over which countries were to blame for the steep rise in emissions and their share of the costs.Saudi Arabia objected to language in the 500-page executive summary calling for the lowering of emissions by 40 to 70 percent, according to an Associated Press report from Berlin, fearing its impact on oil sales. Other media outlets reported that industrial nations and developing nations bickered over which countries were to blame for the steep rise in emissions and their share of the costs.
During a news conference Sunday, another co-chair, Rajendra K. Pachauri of India, said the goal of limiting a rise in global temperatures “cannot be achieved without cooperation.” He added: “What comes out very clearly from this report is that the high-speed mitigation train needs to leave the station soon, and all of global society needs to get on board.” During a news conference Sunday, another co-chair, Rajendra K. Pachauri of India, said the goal of limiting a rise in global temperatures “cannot be achieved without cooperation.” He added, “What comes out very clearly from this report is that the high-speed mitigation train needs to leave the station soon, and all of global society needs to get on board.”
The report goes to extraordinary lengths to convince government decision-makers that lowering emission can be achieved without significantly slowing economic growth. The report goes to extraordinary lengths to convince government decision-makers that lowering emissions can be achieved without significantly slowing economic growth.
It said that diverting billions of dollars from using fossil fuels such as coal to renewable energy such as solar power would shave less than half a percentage point from expected economic growth.It said that diverting billions of dollars from using fossil fuels such as coal to renewable energy such as solar power would shave less than half a percentage point from expected economic growth.
Other steps needed — rapid deployment of energy-efficient technologies, a stop to deforestation and the planting of more trees, and deployment of instruments that capture and store carbon generated at cement factories and power plants so they do not reach the atmosphere — will only get more expensive if decision-makers delay. Other steps needed — rapid deployment of energy-efficient technologies, a stop to deforestation and the planting of more trees, and deployment of instruments that capture and store carbon generated at cement factories and power plants so they do not reach the atmosphere — will get only more expensive if decision-makers delay.
“The longer we wait, the harder this is going to get,” said Leon Clarke, a senior research economist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a lead author on the section of the report about the switch from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.“The longer we wait, the harder this is going to get,” said Leon Clarke, a senior research economist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a lead author on the section of the report about the switch from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.
The findings are the latest in a series from the Fifth Assessment Report on climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, comprised of 800 scientists appointed by the United Nations from around the world, including U.S. agencies such as NASA. The findings are the latest in a series from the Fifth Assessment Report on climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, comprising 800 scientists appointed by the United Nations from around the world, including U.S. agencies such as NASA.
Key findings in previous reports were that the planet is warming at an accelerated pace and, with 95 percent certainty, humans are the cause. The past three decades have been the hottest since 1850. Key findings in previous reports were that the planet is warming at an accelerated pace and that, with 95 percent certainty, humans are the cause. The past three decades have been the hottest since 1850.
Carbon concentrations in the atmosphere have increased 40 percent since then, and carbon, methane and nitrous oxide are at levels unprecedented in at least 800,000 years.Carbon concentrations in the atmosphere have increased 40 percent since then, and carbon, methane and nitrous oxide are at levels unprecedented in at least 800,000 years.
For the first time, the panel offered a carbon budget of 1 trillion tons released in the atmosphere to avoid the worst effects of climate change. More than half that amount has already been released. Up to 3 trillion tons are buried in the earth as fossil fuel.For the first time, the panel offered a carbon budget of 1 trillion tons released in the atmosphere to avoid the worst effects of climate change. More than half that amount has already been released. Up to 3 trillion tons are buried in the earth as fossil fuel.
The new report said increased efforts to develop renewable energy in Europe, along with measures taken by U.S. states such as California and wind power development in China, demonstrate a willingness to address climate change.The new report said increased efforts to develop renewable energy in Europe, along with measures taken by U.S. states such as California and wind power development in China, demonstrate a willingness to address climate change.
But none of that is nearly enough to limit temperatures to 3.6 degrees by 2050 (2 degrees Celsius) and save the earth from a looming climate catastrophe. But none of that is nearly enough to limit temperatures to 3.6 degrees by 2050 (2 degrees Celsius) and save Earth from a looming climate catastrophe.
“Even a 3 degree (Celsius) scenario requires substantial changes,” Edenhofer said. “If we delay action, we will have stronger requirements and increased costs.” “Even a 3-degree [Celsius] scenario requires substantial changes,” Edenhofer said. “If we delay action, we will have stronger requirements and increased costs.”
The new report had nearly 300 authors from 58 countries and 900 reviews, also from around the world. More than 35,000 comments were received and considered for the final draft.The new report had nearly 300 authors from 58 countries and 900 reviews, also from around the world. More than 35,000 comments were received and considered for the final draft.