Guest essay by Eric Worrall
If we do not heed this last chance, I’m sure there will be another last chance in the near future, just like all the previous last chances.
The Observer view on the climate catastrophe facing Earth
Thirty years ago we were warned. Now is our last chance to listen
Thirty years ago this week, the population of Earth was given official notification that it faced a threat of unprecedented magnitude. Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, spewed into the atmosphere from factories and vehicles burning fossil fuels, were pinpointed, definitively, as triggers of future climate change. Melting icecaps, rising sea levels and increasing numbers of extreme weather events would be the norm for the 21st century unless action were taken, warned the authors of the first assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
…
Three decades later, it is clear that we have recklessly ignored that warning.Fossil fuels still supply 80% of the world’s energy, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to rise and global temperatures are still increasing. According to Met Office statistics, there was a 0.14C increase in global temperatures in the decade that followed publication of the first assessment report. This was then followed by a 0.2C increase in each of the following two decades. The world could easily heat by 3C by the end of the century at this rate, warn scientists.
The impact on the world will, by then, be catastrophic. …
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/23/the-observer-view-on-the-climate-catastrophe-facing-earth
Here are some previous last chances for your entertainment (h/t Bishop Hill, Climate Predictions).
New York 1989
The Grandaddy of Climate Last Chances? In 1989 the United Nations gave us 10 years to save the world. WUWT celebrated the 30th anniversary of this 10 year warning last year.
A senior U.N. environmental official says entire nations could be wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels if the global warming trend is not reversed by the year 2000. …
Bonn 2001
A Global Warming Treaty’s Last Chance. That teetering edifice that is the Kyoto Protocol gets some emergency repair work this week as delegates from 180 countries gather in Bonn to work out problems that threaten to scuttle the deal altogether.
Montreal 2005
In an open letter to delegates at the Montreal environmental summit, beginning today, campaigner Mark Lynas explains why action on climate change can no longer be stalled.
“I’m scared. For 15 years I’ve watched international progress on climate change get slower and slower, even while the pace of global warming seems to get ever more rapid. With time running out for the global climate, your meeting in Montreal represents a last chance for action.”
Bali 2007
World leaders will converge on Bali today for the start of negotiations which experts say could be the last chance to save the Earth from catastrophic climate change. Bali could be the last chance to avoid the worst effect of global warming, said Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth.
The New Zealand Herald, 3 Dec 2007
Poznan Poland, 2008
The world will “suicide” if it cannot strike a strong climate pact soon, Australian environmental scientist Tim Flannery has warned. Professor Flannery, who is attending a UN climate summit in Poland, expressed dismay at the slow progress.
“Resistance is a suicidal tactic,” the former Australian of the year, scientist and author told reporters in Poland. “This round of negotiations is likely to be our last chance as a species to deal with the problem.”
Humanity is approaching the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change, according to WWF’s analysis of the latest climate science.The warning comes during UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland.
“Governments in Poznan must agree to peak and decline global emissions well before 2020 to give people reasonable hope that global warming can still be kept within limits that prevent the worst,” said Kim Carstensen, leader of WWF’s global climate initiative.
WWF, “Poznan provides last chance to curb climate change” 5 Dec 2008
Copenhagen 2009 (the real last chance, we really mean it this time!)
The world faces a final opportunity to agree an adequate global response to climate change at a U.N.-led meeting in Copenhagen in December, the European Union’s environment chief said on Friday.
It is now 12 years since Kyoto was created. This makes Copenhagen the world’s last chance to stop climate change before it passes the point of no return, European Union Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told a climate conference in Budapest on Friday.
Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, has warned of “catastrophic consequences” unless a new international agreement on greenhouse gas emissions is reached.
Climate change is “simply the greatest collective challenge we face as a human family”, Mr Ban said in a speech on Monday in Seoul. He urged international leaders to reach a deal to limit their countries’ carbon emissions at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December.
“No one said the road to Copenhagen would be easy. But the agreement we all hope to reach in Copenhagen next year represents the last chance to bring climate change under control before it is too late. There is progress, but we need to step up the pace. With resolve, cooperation and imagination, we can conclude an agreement at the end of next year, delivering the ambitious global action that is needed.”
Speech by Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner responsible for environment at a Climate Change Conference, 31 October 2008, Prague
…
The Copenhagen summit is the world’s last chance to save the planet from “catastrophic” global warming, according to a major study led by Lord Stern of Brentford, the country’s leading authority on climate change.
Without an international agreement to limit global warming, temperatures are likely to rise by 9F (5C) by the end of the century – triggering mass migration, warfare and world hunger, according to the report.
Cancun 2010
A sense of foreboding is one of the few points of general agreement among the 15,000 participants congregating for the next two weeks on this long thin strip of land, marooned between a wide lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. Jairem Ramesh, the Indian environment minister, sees it as the “last chance” for climate change talks to succeed; Connie Hedegaard, the EU’s climate chief, believes a disappointing outcome would “put the whole process in danger”.
The Telegraph (UK), 29 Nov 2010
Durban 2011
Rev. Dr. Olav Fyske Tveit, who leads the World Council of Churches, says the upcoming climate conference in South Africa is mankind’s ‘last opportunity’ to address climate change. This week the World Council of Churches general secretary, Reverend Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, called the United Nations UNFCCC COP 17 meeting a “last opportunity for the international community to be responsible in addressing climate change”, and called on the meeting to “act now for climate justice.”
Spero News, 27 Nov 2011
…
Durban climate change meeting is “the last chance”. Attended by over 200 countries, this week’s major UN conference has been described by many experts as humanity’s last chance to avert the disastrous effects of climate change.
Together with around 20 000 delegates from nearly 200 countries, Ferrial Adam, the climate change and energy campaigner for Greenpeace Africa, will be attending the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which gets under way in Durban in the next two weeks, towards negotiating a new climate regime.
Doha 2012
Tomorrow: the earth’s last chance with climate change? Tomorrow, the whole world talks about irreversible global warming as this year’s international climate change summit begins. Participating are 195 countries (almost all of the United Nations).
There are two concurrent meetings: the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol; and the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They will take place from Monday, November 26, 2012 to Friday, December 7, 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar.
The Examiner, 25 Nov 2012
Warsaw 2013
Is the Warsaw Climate Change Conference a last-chance summit? The Warsaw Climate Change Conference opened on Monday 11th November. After the 2012 failure of Doha, this summit could represent a turning point in the fight against global warming.
“Global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak this decade, and get to zero net emissions by the second half of this century,” announced Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC in a press release dated 8th November. “We have the money and technology, the knowledge and the new economic models to get the job done in time,” she confirmed before describing the next two years as “a critical period to act faster on climate.”
Sustainable Mobility, 14 Nov 2013
Lima 2014
Last chance: Change needed for climate negotiations in Lima 2014. WWF issued the following statement today from Samantha Smith, Leader of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative, as the UN climate talks drew to a conclusion:
“A repeat performance next year would be disastrous, not just for the progress of these negotiations, but more importantly for vulnerable communities everywhere and the natural world on which we all depend…By the time we get to next year’s meeting in Lima, we urgently need to have political will, real commitments, and a clear path to a comprehensive and fair agreement in Paris 2015, where a new global agreement on climate change has to be signed.”
Paris 2015
Scientists are calling on world leaders to sign up to an eight-point plan of action at landmark talks in Paris. The key element is the goal to limit global warming to below 2C by moving to zero carbon emissions by 2050. The UN meeting in December is “the last chance” to avert dangerous climate change, according to the Earth League.
United Nations 2016
New study says that unless nations ramp up their carbon-reduction pledges before 2020, it will be nearly impossible to keep warming to 2 degrees.
‘Last Chance’ to Limit Global Warming to Safe Levels, UN Scientists Warn
United Nations 3 November 2016
South Korea 2018
Last chance to curb greenhouse gas emissions and climate change to limit catastrophic effects, international panel says
Policy responses to be discussed in December, methods to assess interactions of climate and innovation with economic growth win economics Nobel
Leeds 2019
There’s Still One Last Chance to Avoid Total Climate Catastrophe, Says Study
We’ve had chances. Lots of chances. But humanity has a history of squandering chances, despite everything we know about climate change. Despite everything riding on us addressing it.
Plenty more where they came from.
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Global warming last chances are like London buses, if you miss one, don’t worry, another one will come along soon.
It seems like the Big Red bus tour never ends.
Sounds like the Big Bad Wolf story over and over, ad nauseam. Somebody has to put that wolf out of its misery, said the woodcutter.
Living near London years ago I was informed never to go into a pub.cafe, with the Guardian newspaper as it was a sure way to offend some people
It depends on where you go. In the woke borough of Islington if you show up with the Daily Mail they will start choking on their tofu and seagrass – which of course is funny to watch.
Except that people keep believing “The End Is Nigh” instead of eventually waking up.
It reminds me of that cult leader (can’t recall the name) who kept telling his followers that the world would end on such-and-such a date, and when it didn’t, he “adjusted” his prophecy, over and over again, and the people kept believing him.
A human trait I’ll never understand…
“It reminds me of that cult leader (can’t recall the name) who kept telling his followers that the world would end on such-and-such a date, and when it didn’t, he “adjusted” his prophecy, over and over again, and the people kept believing him.”
Moses?
Yup. It’s never the ‘last’ last chance…
Until the next one.
DocBud
It’s London Buses which are the real problem, two always arrive at once.
Not only that, three will show up at the time. (according to Flanders and Swan).
but they’d be electric buses…
London currently has more than 200 electric buses, making it Europe’s largest electric bus fleet, and this will grow significantly in 2020 as Transport for London (TfL) has awarded contracts to operators for a further 78 electric double-deck buses.
There are approximately 8600 buses in London. At the rate of 78 additional buses added per year it would take well over 100 years to replace the fleet. A litle past the next “last chance” Griff.
You are priceless.
“griff August 24, 2020 at 8:44 am
London currently has more than 200 electric buses…”
If they are the new “Route Master” (NBFL, New Buss For London IIRC) then it is diesel electric.
Like most governments, the city of London doesn’t care how much taxpayer money they spend, so long as the politicians can get good press.
I think rate payers in London will have something to say about Sadik Kahn and his 5.7 billion pound debt Londoners are now facing.
He’ll blame it on Trump, and all will be forgiven.
“Jeff Alberts August 24, 2020 at 7:57 pm”
AFAIK, he already has.
Funny how these people have avoided any “solutions” – nuclear power being the most obvious means of eliminating fossil fuels. And at the current time, electric cars have approached gas powered cars in terms of total lifetime costs, and will prevail without any govt assistance. Gen 4 nuclear power (molten salt) reactors are infinitley beter than conventional nuclear and better than any other power technology as well.
“electric cars have approached gas powered cars in terms of total lifetime costs”
Only true because of massive subsidization. Both in the purchase price and in the cost of fuel. Electrics don’t pay taxes to fund the roads they use.
Beyond that, batteries cost more than engines to replace, and don’t last anywhere near as long in the real world.
The real and tragic cost built into electric vehicles is the human one, the horrendous child labour, slave labour and abysmal environmental destruction in mining the raw materials. That suffering infinitely outweighs any other consideration. I wouldn’t drive an electric vehicle if you gave it to me. Ever.
My little Renault Twingo is 18 years old. it still has the same engine, but is on its third battery.
ColMosby – Please get back to us in 3 decades about that total cost of an EV and give us an update on Gen 4 nuclear while you’re at it.
Thank you.
Max P
“…And at the current time, electric cars have approached gas powered cars in terms of total lifetime costs, and will prevail without any govt assistance…”
Oh, do tell us more! How close is “approached,” lol.
Hyundai Kona gas vehicle MSRP starts at $20k. EV version starts at $37k.
Kia Niro gas vehicle MSRP starts at $25k. EV version starts at $39k.
No way will the cost of ownership get close all other things being equal besides ICE vs battery.
And all other things are not equal. EV insurance is much higher. Battery replacement costs are obscene, and EV battery packs are not projected to outlast an ICE.
Are we at a tipping point of last chances? 😉
A Tripping Point perhaps
the 8th Conference of the Party ers
FIFY
😉
Oh gosh …. And the alarmists do not want to admit to alarm either. https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/climate-change/climate-alarmists-eschew-alarmism/
Posted this at RealClimate after the Denial and Alarmism in the Near-Term Extinction and Collapse Debate (http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2020/08/denial-and-alarmism-in-the-near-term-extinction-and-collapse-debate/)
Last warning? Goodee!
Does this mean they will go away and shut-up from now on?
Just like the scam callers giving you one last chance to buy an extended warranty every evening during the dinner hour.
It’s like the crazies telling me that me not wearing mask is killing them.
My only question is:
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
These must children of used car salesmen.
Yes..Two year old children. I am going to hold my breath until I get my way…or else I will hold my breath some more. Just crazy talk. Pretty soon most everyone just ignores them, except for the ignorant children, of whom Greta has sucked into the hype of the world is ending due to Carbon and ’emissions’. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad, especially sad that some adults take this too seriously.
YAWN !!!!!!!!!
Kinda like QaDaffy and his “Line of Death”
Come on, get your last chances now, before they sell out totally and forever. This offer will surely never be repeated.
I love how they pick 30 years ago instead of 50. Alarmists are so cute.
It IS getting near THEIR “Last Chance” to get other people to act the fool so THEY don’t “Look The Fool”
I’d happily accept the whooshing sound of this last chance’s passing if I had any assurance that it would in fact be the last. As with any confidence trick, or hard sell, tipping points and last chances are pretty common.
The Passing of this last chance will require much Charmin to clean up afterwards though
The job’s not over till the paperwork is through
I am still trying to decide whether all these climate doomsayers are complete imbeciles or they are just liars. I’m leaning towards the liar, because not one of their Doomsday prognostications has come to pass. The the most likely scenario, because their doomsayer prognostications have nothing to do with the climate they do have everything to do with the love of power and their aim to throw the Western world into chaos so they can implement their One World communist government.
I say lying fear-mongers.
I think they are just Elitists.
They honestly believe that They Know Best and that their role is to act as some sort of community organiser and raise awareness.
(also remember the other side of someone classing themselves as They Know Best is that anyone who disagrees with them is clearly Wrong. Wrongness isn’t simply a different opinion that can lead to open discussion and deeper overall understanding – it is Wrong. Why? Because They Know Best.)
It is not about them physically doing anything productive towards solving the problem they have largely invented, it is the fact they are using their They Know Best powers into getting other people to reinforce their own brilliance.
It is – In My Opinion – more a way a person’s brain processes information. Some people see things they disagree with or don’t understand and seek to investigate in order to make a more balanced decision in the future. Other’s reject things they don’t understand without discussion because to admit someone else might be Right is to admit that you yourself was Wrong. Being Wrong brings everything they have built up about their lives into question, so clearly they cannot EVER be Wrong.
Wouldn’t go as far as to say it is an actual mental illness, but absolutely believe it is a fundamental result of how your brain is wired.
Didn’t I see this on a TV infomercial not too long ago?
You missed 2017!
Here’s one about the P. Bears:
PuffingtonHost Oct. 2017
This Is Our Last Chance To Save Polar Bears From Extinction
It’s Weather, it’s Climate Closet, it’s The Guardian conflating logical domains and protesting the end of the world is nigh, sacrifice your first, second, select born (i.e. the Democrat Socialists’ wicked solution).
It’s becoming abundantly clear that renewable energy can’t work. It’s also clear that the activists haven’t convinced the population they need to eschew energy and go back to living like the stone age.
I’m fairly confident that President Trump will win re-election. He’s been disappointing because he hasn’t shut down the CAGW scam. On the other hand, the activists are wailing about what he’s done to their beautiful project. He must be doing something right.
If the Democrats keep pounding CAGW and renewable energy, they are wasting their time and are handing the election to Trump, in my humble opinion.
I sure hope you’re right
I just wish Trump could get out of his own way
I don’t need him to make it interesting
Time to turn the professional switch on, and match the suit. He is capable if he doesn’t allow himself to get tripped up by all the negative forces trying to take him down. Listening to some of his interviews one on one with Hannity or todays interview with Steve Hilton and he makes a lot of sense. But yes, he can be his own biggest problem and needs some professionalism and advice from professionals. Let some other high ranking Republicans get down into the mud and wrestle with the dimwits. What he needs to do now his explain how he is going to grow the economy out of this mess that the forces of evil have put us into and keep us under their thumb.
Some kind soul should read the president his Miranda rights. Starting with, “You have the right to remain silent.”
It’s hard to believe there are so many idiots in the world. Intelligent people know it’s a tax scam. What a waste of money. Any way, our 🌞 is going to get hotter. If we don’t leave Earth mankind will go the way of the dinosaurs. Let’s use that money to get the heck out of here 🙂
Just say, “No!” to the Marxist-Bolsheviks and their Climate Trojan Horse.
Your life and those of your family literally depends on “Say No to Joe.” In 1920, tens of millions of Russians were casually indifferent to a change from a political system of Tzars to Commissars. Fatal regrets are by definition too late once you are in the train to a gulag … or worse.
I wish some financial wiz-kids could come up with a financial instrument that allows us all to hedge our bets vis-a-vis some kind of insurance against alleged costs of climate change.
It would be great to see a proper market where people can buy and sell all these last chances. This would be a good way to put things in perspective for many people who have neither the time nor inclination to keep up with the global warming BS stream, and a good way to punish some of the the grifters who currently trade on global-warming alarmism.
Sign by the Catastrophic Climate Change Highway: Next “Last Chance” 61 miles…..
Climate CDO’s and CDS’s, the thought makes me shudder, almost as bad as the alarmism itself
Wolf!
Wolf!
Wolf!
Can we eat these fools when the grand solar minimum causes food shortages?