Science and Goals

In this legislative session in Massachusets, we are not expecting much new legislative progress on energy issues, but at the federal level legislation is front and center. Congressman Ed Markey and Energy Secretary Chu seem to be leading us in a good direction.

Our goal should be to create an economy substantially independent of the burning of fossil fuels.

NASA scientest Jim Hansen argues that the concensus estimates of the rate and risks of global warming are understated.

It ain’t over until it’s over.  The 2007-2008 legislative session ended in the wee hours of August 1.  The final twists yielded stunning successes for environmental advocates.

To stop making the problem worse, we need to stabilize CO2 levels in the atmosphere — we need to stop putting out more CO2 than can be absorbed naturally.  Global warming is driven by the cumulative total amount of CO2 we have put into the atmosphere less cumulative natural absorption. 

2.0 degrees from pre-industrial levels — 1 to 1.5 from todays level — is a ceiling that some world organizations have viewed as troubling, but livable.