"Polar Ice Cap Will Disappear by 2040"

I must say first that the title of the article, which was in CNN money by the way, would not lead you to think that this kind of information was in there, but that's not all they claim. Here's a slice..

SAN FRANCISCO (Business 2.0 Magazine) -- If you've read the news lately, you know the scale of the problem. Catastrophes that once seemed far away are creeping uncomfortably close to our lifetimes. The permanent polar ice cap will disappear by 2040. The seas could be practically devoid of fish by 2048. Manhattan and Miami will be flooded by 2050. Add in widespread disease and famine, and you have a script for the apocalypse.

Then it tangents off to how to make a profit on this mess, as one would expect. So what is the government who has ignored this for so long decided is the best way to solve this problem? The Guardian tells us the plan. Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors:

The US government wants the world's scientists to develop technology to block sunlight as a last-ditch way to halt global warming, the Guardian has learned. It says research into techniques such as giant mirrors in space or reflective dust pumped into the atmosphere would be "important insurance" against rising emissions, and has lobbied for such a strategy to be recommended by a major UN report on climate change, the first part of which will be published on Friday.

The US has also attempted to steer the UN report, prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), away from conclusions that would support a new worldwide climate treaty based on binding targets to reduce emissions - as sought by Tony Blair. It has demanded a draft of the report be changed to emphasize the benefits of voluntary agreements and to include criticisms of the Kyoto Protocol, the existing treaty which the US administration opposes.

The final IPCC report, written by experts from across the world, will underpin international negotiations to devise a new emissions treaty to succeed Kyoto, the first phase of which expires in 2012. World governments were given a draft of the report last year and invited to comment.

The US response, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, says the idea of interfering with sunlight should be included in the summary for policymakers, the prominent chapter at the front of each IPCC report. It says: "Modifying solar radiance may be an important strategy if mitigation of emissions fails. Doing the R&D to estimate the consequences of applying such a strategy is important insurance that should be taken out. This is a very important possibility that should be considered."

Scientists have previously estimated that reflecting less than 1% of sunlight back into space could compensate for the warming generated by all greenhouse gases emitted since the industrial revolution. Possible techniques include putting a giant screen into orbit, thousands of tiny, shiny balloons, or microscopic sulphate droplets pumped into the high atmosphere to mimic the cooling effects of a volcanic eruption. The IPCC draft said such ideas were "speculative, uncosted and with potential unknown side-effects".

The US submission is based on the views of dozens of government officials and is accompanied by a letter signed by Harlan Watson, senior climate negotiator at the US state department. It complains the IPCC draft report is "Kyoto-centric" and it wants to include the work of economists who have reported "the degree to which the Kyoto framework is found wanting". It takes issue with a statement that "one weakness of the [Kyoto] protocol, however, is its non-ratification by some significant greenhouse gas emitters" and asks: "Is this the only weakness worth mentioning? Are there others?"

You see, it's all about the money. Don't make us improve milage or change our fossil fuel using ways, instead lets block out the sun. Why who needs all those light rays anyway. Just photosynthetic organisms who's chlorophyll or equivalent chemical/energy utilization systems works on specific wavelengths and who's systems also clear carbon dioxide. Or human melanocytes to know to produce melanin to tan us and prevent harmful rays from causing deep tissue damage. Or again human skin to convert chemicals such as cholesterol into vitamin D right. Who needs that, eat a suppliment. What's the worst that could happen? God these people are sick in the head and it's everyone in the world and their children who will suffer. Then again, we are going to be in war to the point of nukes anyway so who cares about 2040, right?!

More stuff as I find it. Peace.

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