Global Warming Danger: Catastrophic?

[A short version was published by the Canberra Times, 2 Feb, as "Evidence Points to Catastrophic Climate Change".  A longer version was posted on On Line Opinion, 8 Feb.]

In a new scientific paper (pdf, 600kb) prominent climate scientist James Hansen and his colleague Makiko Sato argue that the Earth is now at least as warm as it was between earlier ice ages, and further warming by even one degree celsius could result in sea level rising by anything from 5 to 25 meters, with perhaps 5 meters rise by the end of this century.

The Problem is Private Debt, not Government Debt

The obsession on both sides of politics with cutting the Federal Government deficit is not only short sighted in the context of the recovery from recent floods.  It is also economically insupportable when private debt in Australia is more than twenty five times public debt.

Global Warming Update: 2010 Equal hottest ever, despite La Niña

A brief update on global warming.  As expect 2010 came in high – the equal-hottest year ever, tying with 2005, according to both NOAA and NASA.  This is despite a strong La-Niña condition developing in the second half of 2010, and low solar irradiance, both of which tend to cool the planet.

What a realistic government agenda would look like

[This article was published by the Canberra Times 14 January, p. 19, under the title "Carbon price, wealth creation are critical issues this year".]

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has declared that 2011 will be a year of accomplishment for her Government.  However many people are deeply frustrated that mainstream politics seems oblivious to new and dangerous issues, as global warming tightens its grip and the verities of old ideologies are found wanting.  There is a huge chasm between politics as usual and the issues we really should be addressing.