U.N.: Ignoring global warming is "criminally irresponsible"

[ProSense]

U.N.: Ignoring global warming is "criminally irresponsible"

By Arthur Max, Associated Press Writer

VALENCIA, Spain — The U.N.'s top climate official warned policymakers and scientists trying to hammer out a landmark report on climate change that ignoring the urgency of global warming would be "criminally irresponsible."

Yvo de Boer's comments came at the opening of a week-long conference that will complete a concise guide on the state of global warming and what can be done to stop the Earth from overheating. It is the fourth and last report issued this year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace prize.

Environmentalists and authors of the report expected tense discussions on what to include and leave out of the document, which is a synthesis of thousands of scientific papers. A summary of about 25 pages will be negotiated line-by-line this week, then adopted by consensus.

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Nobel Prize-winning panel, said scientists were determined to "adhere to standards of quality" in the report. It was indirect barb at the government representatives, who have been accused by environmentalists of watering down and excluding vital information from the summaries of earlier reports to fit their domestic agendas.

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[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, ProSense.

[understandinglife]

2. # 6.

[Duppers]

3. this cannot be said enough

Since there are a few here on DU who profess not to 'believe' (note-their thinking is governed by 'beliefs') in global warming.

#7

[Gregorian]

4. Both in government and personally.

And it's that last one which really makes the difference. We have to take action regardless of whether we have dingbats in our White House. There is no excuse for the frivolity I see. It's not 1920 any more. Although I really would like a new espresso machine. See what I mean? Or that trip to London. Or three trips to the stores this afternoon. Or that ten mile commute which could be done on a bike.