[geo] Polar Bears Can't Wait -- Take _Effective_ Action Now

[John Nissen]

Dear Paul and David (at Greenpeace), Robin, Mary and John (at Friends of the Earth), Kieran (at the Center for Biological Diversity) and fellow activists, I must thank David Steuber for the link to the Polar Bears report [1]. The relevant resolution on sea ice is appended below [5].  It confirms what I have said about sea ice being essential for survival of polar bears.  But it is arguing for ineffective action - reducing concentrations of green-house gases.  Even if, by some amazing feat, the concentrations could be immediately lowered, e.g. CO2 to 350 ppm, it would still not save the Arctic sea ice, at its apparent rate of retreat.  Hence one can argue that geoengineering technology is essential and urgently required to cool the Arctic and save the Arctic sea ice.  And it is not only the lives of polar bears at stake - but all living creatures, since maintaining an ice cap could be essential for avoiding the planet heating well above the maximum temperature of the last million years [2].  Indeed the polar regions can be considered the most important ecosystems on Earth [3]. No scientist can refute this argument for geoengineering to save the Arctic sea ice.  And the sooner the technology is applied the greater chance of success.  Time is our scarcest resource. Note that the report "Copenhagen Diagnosis" [4], which is an update on science since IPCC reported in 2007, has the following two conclusions about Arctic sea ice: ❏ The observed summer-time melting of Arctic sea-ice has far exceeded the worst-case projections from climate models of IPCC AR4. ❏ The warming commitment associated with existing atmospheric greenhouse gas levels means it is very likely that in the coming decades the summer Arctic Ocean will become ice-free, although the precise timing of this remains uncertain. So the science is clear that, if we do not act to prevent it, the sea ice will disappear soon. I trust that Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for Biological Diversity will now lend their support for urgent and affective action to save the Arctic sea ice.  There is no time to lose.  Best wishes, John P.S.  I'm copying this to Professor Lloyd Peck, who gave a fantastic presentation at the Royal Geographic Society in London, featuring polar bears for their persuasive power! See http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/newsroom/news_events/news-5-publicvote.html [1] http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bear-status-report/ [2] http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/temperature/temperature.html#6Myr [3] http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/newsroom/news_events/news-5-publicvote.html [4] http://www.copenhagendiagnosis.org/ [5] http://pbsg.npolar.no/en/meetings/resolutions/15.html Res#1-2009: Effects of global warming on polar bears The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group Recognizing that sea ice is essential to the continued survival of polar bears, and Recognizing the 2007 conclusion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): ”Climate change in polar regions is expected to be among the largest and most rapid of any regions on the Earth, and will cause major physical, ecological, sociological, and economic impacts especially in the Arctic.” and, Recognizing that the IPCC has concluded with “very high confidence” that human produced green house gases are playing a significant forcing role in global warming, and; Recognizing that, as a result of warming, the maximum ice cover of the Arctic Ocean has declined significantly over the past 30 years both spatially and temporally, and; Recognizing that documented changes in the pattern and timing of  breakup and fluctuations in the seasonal distribution of sea ice significantly influence the condition, survival, and reproductive success of polar bears and their prey, and; Recognizing the mandate to manage polar bears and the ecosystem of which they are a part (Article II); Recommends that: Urgent global actions be taken to significantly reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations,  and that Polar bear range state governments and designated authorities agree to consider the current and likely future impacts of global warming in all management and planning affecting polar bears and their key habitats. ---- David wrote: http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bear-status-report/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to geoengineer...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en.