Action in spite of Uncertainty

This is an excellent piece from the Financial Times about the uncertainty surrounding climate change. It goes to great lengths to spotlight areas of agreement and areas where the evidence is less clear (e.g., it's pretty much a given that we'll experience a 1.5C rise in temps, but not so clear cut on 4C).

If you don't have time to read the whole article, skip to the last paragraph:

Meanwhile, concentrations of airborne carbon increase year on year. Once carbon is in the atmosphere, it can stay there for a century, continuing its warming effect. The problem is that if action is delayed until these areas of uncertainty are resolved, the world may find it is too late.

I've written about this before. The whole point of dealing with climate change is to manage our exposure to risk despite the uncertainty.

In Case of Emergency, Break Glass

Alright, so a comprehensive climate change and clean energy bill is all but dead in 2010 and, depending on your mindset, for the foreseeable future. Despite my cynical and pessimistic exterior, I'm an optimist at heart and hold out hope for progress even at some point this year. I know, call me crazy.

So why the optimism, you might ask? Because I have to believe that logic and the moral obligation to act will win out the day. Right now, we have a House bill that passed in the the Summer of 2009 and multiple Senate options including, but not limited to, the the American Power Act (APA). The problem - they're hitting a political glass ceiling.

But now, right now, is the time to break the glass. Multiple reports this year have highlighted the link between human activity and global warming, the associated impacts, and our increased exposure to risk. The latest came out yesterday from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Its "State of the Climate 2009" report makes very clear that global warming is undeniable and we need to begin reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions now.

There are obvious challenges in moving toward a low carbon, sustainable economy. But the alternative is simply not something we are going to be able to handle.

In case you missed it . . .

. . . the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that April 2010 was the hottest year on record. Be sure to think about this when anyone talks about the bad winter we just had or that global warming has stopped.