If it Looks Like We Have a Chance, We Should Take it
A recent article published in Nature Geoscience journalsuggests the earth will warm more slowly in the coming decades than previously projected. Many scientists and environmental organizations have been responding to these findings by urging the public to take them with a “large grain of salt”. The research suggests that warming on the short-term could still be 20% lower than previously estimated, but over the long-term temperatures are still likely to reach 4°C above pre-industrial levels (a level twice that of the limit the international community has committed to). Alexander Otto of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute says this means,‘there is no room for relaxing or rejoicing’.
Last week, Environmental Defence and partner organizations launched a new website as an international effort to showcase the 25 most important facts about the tar sands. This site is a much needed counterweight to the misdirections, crucial omissions, half-truths and outright lies that the federal and Albertan governments as well as the oil industry are using in their busy bid to gain wide support for reckless tar sands expansion plans.
The tar sands are changing our climate, land, air, water, & communities, yet few Canadians know the truth. It’s time for a #realitycheck. http://bit.ly/13wIrtn