A major new report warns that on our current emissions path, we
face the severe risk of abrupt climate change impacts. The basic
conclusions themselves are nothing new — see “Startling new sea
level rise research: “Most likely” 0.8 to 2.0 meters by 2100”
and “Australia faces the “permanent dry” — as do we.” But what
is stunning is that these warnings come from the United States
Geological Survey — the Bush Administration (!). This new
science-based report, Abrupt Climate Change, is thus a sobering
book-end to the fantasy-based talking points released by the
Administration today on how the President has “Taken
Constructive Steps To Confront Climate Change.” This is a first-
rate report from the USGS’s Climate Change Science Program. I
highly recommend reading, Chapter 2, “Rapid Changes in Glaciers
and Ice Sheets and their Impacts on Sea Level,” and Chapter 3,
“Hydrological Variability and Change.” The chapters are much
more readable than the IPCC reports, and the two together will
make anyone an expert on what