SET Energy » MIT http://setenergy.org Sustainable Energy Transition Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:50:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 MIT Research Shows Probability of a Hot World Growing http://setenergy.org/2009/02/23/mit-research-shows-probability-of-a-hot-world-growing/ http://setenergy.org/2009/02/23/mit-research-shows-probability-of-a-hot-world-growing/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:25:11 +0000 Dennis M. http://setenergy.org/?p=925 climatechange1Our friends in meteorology over in DC just posted an important update on climate change predictions via the Washington Post. MIT researchers have a roulette wheel that represents the probability that the Earth will get extremely hot by 2100. And unfortunately, their 2009 numbers are a lot worse than their 2002 findings. Our oceans’ diminishing ability to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and a number of other factors make a dangerously hot world seem more likely to these scientists. The median expected temperature increase without significant international policy change is now 9.2 degrees Fahrenheit (5.1 degrees Celsius). This is more than twice (!!) the median temperature rise expected in 2002 of 4.3 degrees F (2.4 degrees C).

Such data show that the time to act swiftly is indeed upon us. The major economies of the world need to fix humankind’s worst market failure yet, global warming. If greenhouse gases aren’t priced into our energy system shortly (most likely through a global cap and trade system), the climate balance that is economically worth tens of trillions (and spiritually much more) will be lost.

It’s up to all of us to do our part in the Sustainable Energy Transition!

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