Climate change could lead to 'a collapse of our civilization' according to Sir David Attenborough

[Elderberry]

Doyle Rice, USA TODAY 12/3/2018

Human-caused climate change is turning into a “medical emergency” that could result in death and disease for millions, according to British medical journal, The Lancet.

Famed British naturalist Sir David Attenborough, while speaking at an international climate conference Monday in Poland, warned that climate change could lead to a "collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world."

The 92-year-old TV presenter blamed humans for the “disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years.”

The United Nations' conference, known as COP24 (the informal name for the 24th Conference of the Parties), is an annual gathering of the world's top experts on climate change.

More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/12/03/climate-change-could-lead-collapse-civilization-said-david-attenborough/2195775002/

[Elderberry]

https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-climate-statement-past-4-years-warmest-record

WMO climate statement: past 4 years warmest on record

The long-term warming trend has continued in 2018, with the average global temperature set to be the fourth highest on record. The 20 warmest years on record have been in the past 22 years, with the top four in the past four years, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Other tell-tale signs of climate change, including sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification and sea-ice and glacier melt continue, whilst extreme weather left a trail of devastation on all continents, according to the WMO provisional Statement on the State of the Climate in 2018.  It includes details of impacts of climate change based on contributions from a wide range of United Nations partners.

The report shows that the global average temperature for the first ten months of the year was nearly 1°C above the pre-industrial baseline (1850-1900). This is based on five independently maintained global temperature data sets.

“We are not on track to meet climate change targets and rein in temperature increases,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. “Greenhouse gas concentrations are once again at record levels and if the current trend continues we may see temperature increases 3-5°C by the end of the century. If we exploit all known fossil fuel resources, the temperature rise will be considerably higher,” he said.

“It is worth repeating once again that we are the first generation to fully understand climate change and the last generation to be able to do something about it,” said Mr Taalas.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on Global Warming of 1.5°C reported that the average global temperature for the decade 2006-2015 was 0.86°C above the pre-industrial baseline. The average increase above the same baseline for the most recent decade 2009-2018 was about 0.93°C and for the past five years, 2014-2018, was 1.04°C above the pre-industrial baseline.

“These are more than just numbers,” said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Elena Manaenkova.

“Every fraction of a degree of warming makes a difference to human health and access to food and fresh water, to the extinction of animals and plants, to the survival of coral reefs and marine life. It makes a difference to economic productivity, food security, and to the resilience of our infrastructure and cities. It makes a difference to the speed of glacier melt and water supplies, and the future of low-lying islands and coastal communities. Every extra bit matters,” said Ms Manaenkova.

The WMO report adds to the authoritative scientific evidence that will inform UN climate change negotiations from 2-14 December in Katowice, Poland. The key objective of the meeting is to adopt the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which aims to hold the global average temperature increase to as close as possible to 1.5°C.

The IPCC report on Global Warming of 1.5°C said that this target was physically possible but would require unprecedented changes in our lifestyle, energy and transport systems. It showed how keeping temperature increases below 2°C would reduce the risks to human well-being, ecosystems and sustainable development.

More at link above

[Cyber Liberty]

News for Davie:  If we follow what is no doubt his prescription, it will certainly lead to 'a collapse of our civilization.'

[DB]

LOL!

Throughout history in warmer periods man flourished and in cooler periods man suffered. It is well documented.

And in all likelihood the sun is starting to go through an extended quite period for decades to come after a period of being unusually active (at least in the time frame of modern history). If that happens it will only be getting cooler, not warmer... Cooler means less food. More disease. More suffering.

But carry on with the foolishness... You've written your life's epitaph in stone...

[RoosGirl]

Good, we need something to kill off the stupid people instead of letting them all drag us down.

[Cyber Liberty]

Good, we need something to kill off the stupid people instead of letting them all drag us down.

Remove all the warning labels.

[RoosGirl]

Remove all the warning labels.

That only helps with those that don't understand that water mixed with electricity is not a great new hipster drink.

[mountaineer]

What the hell. It might get a 1/2 degree cooler. Or warmer. Over the course of several decades.
 BFD.
 My gosh, these people make Chicken Little look mellow and sane.

[Cyber Liberty]

That only helps with those that don't understand that water mixed with electricity is not a great new hipster drink.

We need to start an electricity and water fad.  Best thing since Tide pods.

[mountaineer]

We need to start an electricity and water fad.  Best thing since Tide pods.

Get in a bath tub full of water, pop a Tide pod and toss in a plugged-in toaster?

[DB]

That only helps with those that don't understand that water mixed with electricity is not a great new hipster drink.

Water mixed with electricity is fine - if it isn't contaminated with other stuff - which is rare... Pure water is an insulator.

[RoosGirl]

Water mixed with electricity is fine - if it isn't contaminated with other stuff - which is rare... Pure water is an insulator.

Hmmm... your tub must be really really clean. Makes me think you don't use it.

[SZonian]

Islamofascism is more of a direct threat to Western Civilization than "climate change"...

[Cyber Liberty]

Get in a bath tub full of water, pop a Tide pod and toss in a plugged-in toaster?

A toaster will have to do, since we don't have those old CRT colour TeeVees anymore. 

[Cyber Liberty]

Islamofascism is more of a direct threat to Western Civilization than "climate change"...

Right after the thread of Islam is the threat of climate alarmists like Attenborough.

[DB]

Hmmm... your tub must be really really clean. Makes me think you don't use it.

It's been years since I've been in any tub...

[RoosGirl]

It's been years since I've been in any tub...

I knew it!

[DB]

I knew it!

With water.