On Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 1:52 PM, David Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>
> I'm one of those who tend to believe civilization can only go so far down
> a path of thoughtless interference with the planetary systems. I haven't
> tried to assemble anything like a case that might convince a scientist.
>
>

There have been some reasonable scientific efforts to establish the limits
of interference.  The 2C, 4C, and 350 ppm targets are all based on what I
would call plausible SWAGs or one or two step estimations that are tied to
models of reality (not just arbitrary numbers).   A more sophisticated and
multidimensional approach was attempted by Rockstrom et al. See
http://www.environment.arizona.edu/files/env/profiles/liverman/rockstrom-etc-liverman-2009-nature.pdf

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html the full
text is at

 A safe operating space for humanity
*Nature* *461*, 472-475 (24 September 2009) | doi:10.1038/461472a;
Published online 23 September 2009

See associated Correspondence: Cribb, Nature 476, 282 (August
2011)<http://www.nature.com/uidfinder/10.1038/476282b>

Johan 
Rockström1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,2 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a2>,
Will 
Steffen1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,3 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a3>,
Kevin 
Noone1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,4 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a4>,
Åsa 
Persson1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,2 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a2>,
F. Stuart Chapin,
III5<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a5>,
Eric F. 
Lambin6<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a6>,
Timothy M. 
Lenton7<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a7>,
Marten 
Scheffer8<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a8>,
Carl 
Folke1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,9 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a9>,
Hans Joachim 
Schellnhuber10<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a10>
,11 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a11>,
Björn 
Nykvist1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,2 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a2>,
Cynthia A. de 
Wit4<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a4>,
Terry 
Hughes12<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a12>,
Sander van der 
Leeuw13<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a13>,
Henning 
Rodhe14<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a14>,
Sverker 
Sörlin1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,15 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a15>,
Peter K. 
Snyder16<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a16>,
Robert 
Costanza1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,17 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a17>,
Uno 
Svedin1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>,
Malin 
Falkenmark1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,18 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a18>,
Louise 
Karlberg1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,2 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a2>,
Robert W. 
Corell19<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a19>,
Victoria J. 
Fabry20<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a20>,
James 
Hansen21<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a21>,
Brian 
Walker1<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a1>
,22 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a22>,
Diana 
Liverman23<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a23>
,24 <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a24>,
Katherine 
Richardson25<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a25>,
Paul 
Crutzen26<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a26>
&
Jonathan A. 
Foley27<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#a27>
Topof 
page<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#top>
Abstract

Identifying and quantifying planetary boundaries that must not be
transgressed could help prevent human activities from causing unacceptable
environmental change, argue Johan Rockström and colleagues.


   - New approach proposed for defining preconditions for human development
   - Crossing certain biophysical thresholds could have disastrous
   consequences for humanity
   - Three of nine interlinked planetary boundaries have already been
   overstepped

Although Earth has undergone many periods of significant environmental
change, the planet's environment has been unusually stable for the past
10,000 years1, 
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#B1>
2,  
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#B2>3<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461472a.html#B3>.
This period of stability — known to geologists as the Holocene — has seen
human civilizations arise, develop and thrive.


>
>

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