Professor Emeritus says human extinction could be within a couple of decades

[stopfakinjax]

Interesting talk

Our guest for Episode 52 of the podcast is Dr. Guy McPherson. Dr. McPherson left his high-pay, low-work position as a tenured full professor at the University of Arizona to retreat to a simpler life 'on the land'. He is now a writer at GuyMcPherson.com and Transitionvoice.com, a published author, and public speaker. In this episode of the podcast, we find out why a life-long academic would abandon this seemingly idyllic position, and get his perspective on the challenges that face our species in the decades to come.
Lank: http://traffic.libsyn.com/smellslikepodcast/Smells_Like_Human_Spirit_Episode_52_-_Past_the_Point_of_No_Return_-_A_Discussion_with_Guy_McPherson.mp3

 

[daze23]

beep boop...

Professor Emeritus says human extinction could be within a couple of decades

anyway, here's dude's website:

Nature Bats Last – Nature Bats Last

and a proper link to the podcast:

Episode 52 - The Point of No Return: A Discussion with Professor Emeritus Dr. Guy McPherson - Smells Like Human Spirit Podcast

 

[Melt_Man]

Great listen, thanks.

 

[Mr. Somebody]

You sweep with a broom but you'll never get all the dust. This professor, doesnt know what hes talking about. When people say we're all going to die on the corner you call them crazy. When a professor says it, you sit and listen.

Its so demonic, friends.

 

[Bud Bundy]

a couple of decades is pretty soon.

yet the population keeps going up

but to tell you the truth i was gone as soon as Arizona was mentioned.

 

[Mr Uncle Leroy]

summary?

 

[rocksteady]

summary?

he talks about human extinction being a real possibility (sooner rather than later).

he talks about how unlike previous historical prophecies where humans meet their doom, his forecast is, "deeply rooted in the data."

he talks about humans triggering 10 "self reinforcing feedback loops on the climate change front." 9 of which are irreversible.

he goes on to give an example of one particular feedback loop: the gulf stream. the gulf stream normally reverses course off the coast of greenland. in 2010 it shot through the frame straight directly into the arctic. which began to defrost the arctic in an accelerating rate. same for 2011.

the mass of ice in the arctic hasn't been this low for millions of years (since before homo sapiens). he says that by 2015 there will be no ice in the arctic in the summer. some have even suggested a possibility as early as this september.

the reason this one example is a dire problem is because the arctic is the planet's "air conditioner." one can imagine the repercussions as it relates to this problem, not to mention the other 9 triggers (possibly irreversible). increased absorption of the sun's energy and lower reflectance has profound implications on ecosystems around the world, which we depend upon for our lives.