Arctic Sea Ice Levels Hit Record Low, Scientists Say We're 'Running Out Of Time'

[acri1]

Arctic Sea Ice Levels Hit Record Low, Scientists Say We're 'Running Out Of Time'

Posted: 09/19/2012 7:51 pm EDT Updated: 09/20/2012 12:54 pm EDT

As Arctic sea ice levels hit a new record low this month, scientists and activists gathered to discuss how to bridge the gap between scientific facts and the public's limited understanding that we are, in their words, "really running out of time."

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) released preliminary findings Wednesday suggesting that on Sept. 16, Arctic ice covered just 1.32 million square miles -- the lowest extent ever recorded. This minimum is 49 percent below the 1979 average, when satellite records began.

“The loss of summer sea ice has led to unusual warming of the Arctic atmosphere, that in turn impacts weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, that can result in persistent extreme weather such as droughts, heat waves and flooding,” NSIDC scientist Dr. Julienne Stroeve told Greenpeace in a press release.

Wednesday morning, a group of climate scientists and activists met at a Greenpeace International panel in New York to strategize on potential responses to the changing Arctic climate.

"There's a huge gap between what is understood by the scientific community and what is known by the public," NASA scientist James Hansen said, adding that he believed, "unfortunately, that gap is not being closed."

What the scientific community understands is that Arctic ice is melting at an accelerated rate -- and that humans play a role in these changes.

According to the panel, humans are "really running out of time" to prevent atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from reaching levels that would precipitate runaway climate change. Hansen warned that even maintaining current concentrations of approximately 390 parts per million for several centuries "guarantees disaster."

He attributed the rise in carbon dioxide concentrations largely to the burning of fossil fuels. "It's crystal clear. If we burn all the fossil fuels, we create certain disaster," he said.

Despite the fact that "we have a planetary emergency," Hansen explained, "It's hard for the public to realize, because they stick their head out the window and don't see much going on."

Having just witnessed climate change in action on an Arctic campaign, Greenpeace International head Kumi Naidoo professed, "I am shyt scared." Despite the fact that the Arctic seems far away, Naidoo said, "What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic."

In order to appeal to the public, Naidoo said climate change language must become more relatable. For example, on a recent campaign, he changed a banner at the last minute from "Stop Arctic Destruction" to "Don't Destroy Our Children's Future."

Beyond altering language, 350.org founder Bill McKibben said engaging the younger generation is key. He explained the importance of limiting our fossil fuel "appetites" and pressuring the industry directly through student divestment campaigns and a fee and dividend mechanism.

"Because of [the fossil fuel industry's] wealth and political power, they've been able to remain the only industry on Earth that doesn't have to clean up after themselves. There's no price on carbon," McKibben later told HuffPost.

His proposal to increase the cost of carbon emissions -- one also advocated by Hansen -- would involve collecting a fee on all oil, gas and coal resources at the point of domestic extraction or their port of entry. A dividend would then be equally split among all legal residents, with none of the funds going to the government. McKibben and others argue that this market-based approach would promote innovation and awareness without increasing the size of government.

According to McKibben, the carbon fee must be high enough to keep 80 percent of known fossil fuel reserves in the ground.

Assessing the melting Arctic ice and other recent climate observations, McKibben noted, "The final irony is we're at the first moment in human history where we're able to see what's going on ... the question is whether we're going to do anything about it."

Arctic Sea Ice Levels Hit Record Low, Scientists Say We're 'Running Out Of Time'

This is kind of scary. Somebody please tell this liberally biased Arctic Ice to stop melting.

 

[88m3]

You're not going to stop countries like China, Russia, Pakistan, Gulf States, India, or continents like Africa and South America so it's pointless.

 

[Meta Reign]

You really have to be a dikksukking fool of immense proportions to be eating sh!t like this up.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

You really have to be a dikksukking fool of immense proportions to be eating sh!t like this up.

Go away moron. You are scientifically illiterate. Nobody who is scientifically literate denies climate change is real. You do not understand the actual science. All you know is that you generally distrust "elites" but you are too intellectually lazy or unequipped or both to actually make a sober inquiry into the science and discern the truth. You are the equivalent of a creationist or someone who thinks the Earth is flat.

 

[acri1]

You really have to be a dikksukking fool of immense proportions to be eating sh!t like this up.

Let me guess, NSIDC, Greepeace and NASA are all in on some kind of left-wing conspiracy to lie about the Arctic Ice Levels so they can take over the world?

 

[Type Username Here]

 

[Serious]

You really have to be a dikksukking fool of immense proportions to be eating sh!t like this up.

jesus christ without fail. I couldn't even finish reading the thread....

The Wire - The Desk - YouTube

 

[chuckifubuck]

the worst thing is there is NO political will to get anything done

It seems the peak of climate change awareness was around 07-08 and now we've actually regressed with more and more people denying climate change and others not giving a fukk because they think some magical technological discovery will save them.

I mean, we're getting closer to the breaking point yet shyt like the keystone pipeline gets approved and the government is still in the pockets of the oil industry. Meanwhile shyt that could actually help like nuclear power has horrible public perception that would need some serious fixing before anyone would even propose building some nuclear plants.

You can talk about the third world but WE are still the major contributor to greenhouse gasses and its not looking any better.

I aint havin any kids brehs, the future looks grim

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

Let me guess, NSIDC, Greepeace and NASA are all in on some kind of left-wing conspiracy to lie about the Arctic Ice Levels so they can take over the world?

That's partially true, but the Federal Reserve, the Rothschilds, the Trilateral Commission, Cobra, Klingons, and Larry Silverstein were involved as well. They all met at Bohemian Grove and falsified measurements of Arctic sea ice while having gay sex orgies that form human pentagrams, worshipping Satan, and drinking babies' blood out of human skulls.

 

[zerozero]

It seems the peak of climate change awareness was around 07-08 and now we've actually regressed with more and more people denying climate change and others not giving a fukk because they think some magical technological discovery will save them.

Al Gore should drop this Current TV stuff
and make another movie called HEY MORONS

 

[Robbie3000]

That's partially true, but the Federal Reserve, the Rothschilds, the Trilateral Commission, Cobra, Klingons, and Larry Silverstein were involved as well. They all met at Bohemian Grove and falsified measurements of Arctic sea ice while having gay sex orgies that form human pentagrams, worshipping Satan, and drinking babies' blood out of human skulls.

 

[On Site]

We had a good run while it lasted

 

[Dirty_Jerz]

That's partially true, but the Federal Reserve, the Rothschilds, the Trilateral Commission, Cobra, Klingons, and Larry Silverstein were involved as well. They all met at Bohemian Grove and falsified measurements of Arctic sea ice while having gay sex orgies that form human pentagrams, worshipping Satan, and drinking babies' blood out of human skulls.

them bohemian members probably really be doing this though i wouldnt put it past them and their gay agenda


as far as all that ice meltin goes nobody really gives a fukk anymore unless it is directly affecting them right here right now in their front yard knockin down the door killin they babies and taking their tax dollars

YOLO

 

[MF_BREW]

I got a plan wouldn't you send some of that water to africa? I mean you can hand out some to tribes and to people so they can use it for gardening. Just a thought.

 

[Malta]

We had a good run