Over the weekend, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Synthesis Report of its Fourth Assessment Report (4AR). The report is being published in advance of the upcoming 13th Conference of the Parties (COP-13) to the U.N Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali. At the COP-13, negotiators will try to hammer out a new international treaty to deal with the man-made emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are contributing to global warming. Any new treaty would replace the Kyoto Protocol which terminates in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol set a goal of reducing GHG emissions by an average of 5 percent below the level that signatory countries emitted in 1990. In October, the scientific journal Nature published a commentary that declared,
"...as an instrument for achieving emissions reductions, [the Kyoto Protocol] has failed. It has produced no demonstrable reductions in emissions or even in anticipated emissions growth."
Among other things, the Synthesis Report concludes:
Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level...
Most of the observed increase in globally-averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations.7 It is likely there has been significant anthropogenic warming over the past 50 years averaged over each continent (except Antarctica)...
The Synthesis Report further notes:
Determining what constitutes “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” in relation to Article 2 of the UNFCCC involves value judgements. Science can support informed decisions on this issue,...
The negotiations in Bali will be over these value judgements and how to balance higher energy costs with the benefits of a cooler climate.
Impacts of climate change are very likely to impose net annual costs which will increase over time as global temperatures increase. Peer-reviewed estimates of the social cost of carbon23 in 2005 average US$12 per tonne of CO2, but the range from 100 estimates is large (-$3 to $95/tCO2). This is due in large part to differences in assumptions regarding climate sensitivity, response lags, the treatment of risk and equity, economic and noneconomic impacts, the inclusion of potentially catastrophic losses, and discount rates. Aggregate estimates of costs mask significant differences in impacts across sectors, regions and populations and very likely underestimate damage costs because they cannot include many non-quantifiable impacts.
Limited and early analytical results from integrated analyses of the costs and benefits of mitigation indicate that they are broadly comparable in magnitude, but do not as yet permit an unambiguous determination of an emissions pathway or stabilisation level where benefits exceed costs.
Climate sensitivity is a key uncertainty for mitigation scenarios for specific temperature levels.
Choices about the scale and timing of GHG mitigation involve balancing the economic costs of more rapid emission reductions now against the corresponding medium-term and long-term climate risks of delay.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Cold Remedies from Outer Space
Drink sassafras tea to shorten the length of your cold.
· Or try this indian cure, slice some onions and then make them into a necklace.
· The number one grandma cure is chicken soup. (Add some garlic cloves!)
· An Arabian cure is to eat pomegranates.
· The Russians recommend drinking an ice-cold glass of vodka with two teaspoons of black pepper! Whooa, that should unclog that stuffy nose!
· This next tip was sent in by Burrell Webb from Eugene, Oregon; "From the deep, dark recesses of my memory, I recall my mother using a salve made of kerosene and lard on us kids for any flu or cold like symptoms. I have since heard that researchers have discovered a strong medicine made from kerosene. I have to admit that as a child it seemed to work." Thanks for the swell remedy Burrell!
· Elaine Miller writes; "Garlic contains a natural antibiotic. When anyone in my family comes down with a cold or infection of any kind, I chop up one large clove of garlic, and mix it on a spoon with honey. We swallow it down with a few gulps of water. Don't chew! I've known many, many families who swear by this remedy. If you normally have a low fiber diet, though, it can cause diarrhea, but cleaning out your system is a benefit!" Thanks Elaine!
· Katriona from Australia writes; "A good way to get rid of a cold is to cut up some garlic and ginger into a cup. Get enough so that the cup is about 1/4 full. Add half a lemon (diced) and fill with hot water. Stir and let set for 1 minute. Strain and add honey for taste. Drink and go straight to bed. This always works." Thank you so much for sharing Katriona!
· And last but not least, my favorite old time remedy for the common cold: Supplies needed for cure; a four poster bed, a bottle of whiskey and one hat. The cure; Hang your hat on the bedpost at the foot of your bed. Get into the bed and drink whiskey until you see two hats!
Lola’s Revenge Cure for those who are forced to go into work while sick, in order to ensure other idiots at office don’t burn the place down. In a few easy steps you can feel better. (Well, if not actually better, at least vindicated for having to come into the office)
1. Secretly cough on all of the phones they aren’t answering when they’re not looking
2. Place your used Kleenex™ all around their desks
3. Obtain a small bottle of brandy to sip on throughout the day – add honey to help ease your throat 4. Demand that someone bring you a pair of fuzzy slippers and a throw to wrap around yourself.
5. If you have a television somewhere in the office, insist that all channels be turned to soap operas so you won’t miss your “stories”, as my grandma used to say
6. Every time someone starts to speak to you, or to someone on the phone (which as mentioned before, no one is answering), cough as loudly as you can.
7. Start drinking as much water as possible, because with the cocktail of OTC/Homeopathic cures you've been taking, you need some diluting action. Fast.
8. Go ahead and call Poison Control because you drank your water with some Scotch in it. They should be there anywhere from 8 am to 4 pm
· Or try this indian cure, slice some onions and then make them into a necklace.
· The number one grandma cure is chicken soup. (Add some garlic cloves!)
· An Arabian cure is to eat pomegranates.
· The Russians recommend drinking an ice-cold glass of vodka with two teaspoons of black pepper! Whooa, that should unclog that stuffy nose!
· This next tip was sent in by Burrell Webb from Eugene, Oregon; "From the deep, dark recesses of my memory, I recall my mother using a salve made of kerosene and lard on us kids for any flu or cold like symptoms. I have since heard that researchers have discovered a strong medicine made from kerosene. I have to admit that as a child it seemed to work." Thanks for the swell remedy Burrell!
· Elaine Miller writes; "Garlic contains a natural antibiotic. When anyone in my family comes down with a cold or infection of any kind, I chop up one large clove of garlic, and mix it on a spoon with honey. We swallow it down with a few gulps of water. Don't chew! I've known many, many families who swear by this remedy. If you normally have a low fiber diet, though, it can cause diarrhea, but cleaning out your system is a benefit!" Thanks Elaine!
· Katriona from Australia writes; "A good way to get rid of a cold is to cut up some garlic and ginger into a cup. Get enough so that the cup is about 1/4 full. Add half a lemon (diced) and fill with hot water. Stir and let set for 1 minute. Strain and add honey for taste. Drink and go straight to bed. This always works." Thank you so much for sharing Katriona!
· And last but not least, my favorite old time remedy for the common cold: Supplies needed for cure; a four poster bed, a bottle of whiskey and one hat. The cure; Hang your hat on the bedpost at the foot of your bed. Get into the bed and drink whiskey until you see two hats!
Lola’s Revenge Cure for those who are forced to go into work while sick, in order to ensure other idiots at office don’t burn the place down. In a few easy steps you can feel better. (Well, if not actually better, at least vindicated for having to come into the office)
1. Secretly cough on all of the phones they aren’t answering when they’re not looking
2. Place your used Kleenex™ all around their desks
3. Obtain a small bottle of brandy to sip on throughout the day – add honey to help ease your throat 4. Demand that someone bring you a pair of fuzzy slippers and a throw to wrap around yourself.
5. If you have a television somewhere in the office, insist that all channels be turned to soap operas so you won’t miss your “stories”, as my grandma used to say
6. Every time someone starts to speak to you, or to someone on the phone (which as mentioned before, no one is answering), cough as loudly as you can.
7. Start drinking as much water as possible, because with the cocktail of OTC/Homeopathic cures you've been taking, you need some diluting action. Fast.
8. Go ahead and call Poison Control because you drank your water with some Scotch in it. They should be there anywhere from 8 am to 4 pm
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