“Numerous species of plants and animals have moved towards the poles, or to higher altitudes …” Why? “to escape the heat”, as claimed? Or to take advantage of the new opportunities afforded to them? Migration to more favourable environments is a viable alternative to adapting to change in situ. Climate change is an opportunity as well as a threat. It is also a planetary constant, a given throughout the earth’s life, granted that there is a strong case (still with many unresolved uncertainties) that human activity has accelerated warming in recent times.

Yep, rightio, its all good. I have no real problem with this article. Climate change is definitely happening and we need to both do something about it and be prepared for the changes that will happen even if we do our utmost to prevent it.

Yes there are lots of significant ways to reduce GHG emissions in order to limit climate change. But here in Oz there really is scant motivation for doing so, what with the scale of emissions in the US and China. We also have rapid population growth, which serves to greatly dilute any efforts we may make towards reducing our share – something that Paul Holper didn’t mention.

However, we have a huge motivation for reducing liquid fossil fuel consumption and developing alternatives due to the looming peak oil crisis. This is where the efforts of people like Paul should be directed, as this issue is vastly more important and immediate than climate change….and encompasses most of the same subissues.

The climate change issue is likely to very largely be dealt with by the looming peak oil issue, or at least dealt to a level of significance greater than we could collectively manage by way of improved efficiencies worldwide. GHG emissions will fall, and a progressively larger share of those emissions will be from renewable sources that don’t lead to a net GHG increase in the atmosphere. There will still be coal, and increasing per-capita consumption in China and perhaps India, and there will still be a continuously increasing number of consumers overall, but all considered, climate change will be dealt a severe blow.

So I don’t think we should be worrying too much about it climate change. What we need to concentrate on is peak oil, which is much more immediate and has much more power to severely disrupt our society in Australia, and most oil-dependent societies around the world.

I'd like to respond to Candide, who made a most interesting point:

She said: "If [Global Warming] is being caused by us (and our plague-like numbers) then perhaps it is time the earth became far less hospitable to the human race, which may go down in the fossil record as one of the most short-lived and destructive species to have inhabited our planet."

Gulp!

In the ultimate rationalisation, we either live sustainably or we do not.
(ie we do not live).

Narcissist "There is more to this than we are being told" - a conspiracy perhaps? More like a loss of faith in the incomplete science surrounding global warming. Trends measured over decades ain't going to convince people accustomed to getting their answers on demand. Got a dissenting point of view? You can rely on our vast ignorance every time. There is little scientific doubt climate change is taking place; most debate now is along the lines of "It wasn't me I'm not listening la la la la la la la"

There are many with vested interests in the status quo, and doubt is easy to manufacture. What was it Dick Cheney said after his inauguration? Ah, yes. Conservation of the natural environment was 'a quaint idea.' Candide has a point - "perhaps it is time the eath became far less hospitable to the human race". Should it come to that? Not a pleasant thought but how else to rein in our incredibly wasteful lifestyles?

Candide
Maybe the planet would be better off without humans,I am sure a lot of other life forms will survive after we are gone.

We may have the distinction of being the first species known to have have been given the option of surviving and not exercised that option.

I seem to agree with "CANDIDE"; Who said "If it is being caused by us (and our plague-like numbers) then perhaps it is time the earth became far less hospitable to the human race, which may go down in the fossil record as one of the most short-lived and destructive species to have inhabited our planet".
.
So, If there weren't so many of us, then the pollution "We" have caused wouldn't be enough to cause "Global Warming", etc.
.
We either have to cease, or restrict, polluting; or cut our numbers - maybe a combination of both?
.
A lady, (well a female), last week on Calback Radio stated "We (her family) can afford to have a large family, so why shouldn't we?"

Answer - because we (Humanity) CANT AFFORD IT!

Cheers all.