[greenyes] Pres. Bush & Global Warming Findings from the Arctic

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

I continue to find it difficult to understand how the President can claim he 
opposes mandatory carbon reductions to save the world we leave our children 
because it would put American workers at a competitive disadvantage with 
some developing countries like China, while he embraces those distorted free 
trade policies which place our workers at a far greater disadvantage. 
Perhaps if those workers were to contribute as much money as the coal 
companies, Mr. Bush might see the parallels.

                                                                             
    Peter



WASHINGTON POST
Study Says Polar Bears Could Face Extinction
Warming Shrinks Sea Ice Mammals Depend On
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 9, 2004; Page A13


Global warming could cause polar bears to go extinct by the end of the 
century by eroding the sea ice that sustains them, according to the most 
comprehensive international assessment ever done of Arctic climate change.

The thinning of sea ice -- which is projected to shrink by at least half by 
the end of the century and could disappear altogether, according to some 
computer models -- could determine the fate of many other key Arctic 
species, said the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, the product of four 
years of work by more than 300 scientists.

Bears are dependent on sea ice because they use it to hunt for seals, which 
periodically pop up through breathing holes in the ice. Because the ice has 
broken up earlier and earlier in the year over the past few decades, polar 
bears are deprived of crucial hunting opportunities.

The uncertain fate of the world's largest non-aquatic carnivores -- as well 
as the future of other animals and humans who live in the Arctic -- was 
sketched in stark relief yesterday by the 139-page document.

The report offered a broad picture of the evidence that climate change has 
disproportionately affected far northern latitudes.

The researchers concluded that some areas in the Arctic have warmed 10 times 
as fast as the world as a whole, which has warmed an average of 1 degree 
Fahrenheit over the past century.

"The Arctic is really warming now," said Robert Corell, a senior fellow at 
the American Meteorological Society who chaired the assessment. "These areas 
provide a bellwether of what's coming to planet Earth."

In Alaska, western Canada and eastern Russia, average winter temperatures 
have risen as much as four to seven degrees Fahrenheit within the past 50 
years, according to the report and are projected to increase an additional 
seven to 13 degrees over the next century. Winter temperatures have risen 
faster than summer temperatures, according to Michael MacCracken, chief 
scientist for climate change programs at the Washington-based Climate 
Institute, because thin sea ice releases more energy from the ocean into the 
atmosphere.

The sea ice in Hudson Bay, Canada, now breaks up 2 1/2 weeks earlier than it 
did 30 years ago, said Canadian Wildlife Service research scientist Ian 
Stirling, and as a result female polar bears there weigh 55 pounds less than 
they did then. Assuming the current rate of ice shrinkage and accompanying 
weight loss in the Hudson Bay region, bears there could become so thin by 
2012 they may no longer be able to reproduce, said Lara Hansen, chief 
scientist for the World Wildlife Fund.

"Once the population stops reproducing, that's pretty much the end of it," 
Hansen said.

"...

Polar bears are not the only Arctic animals in trouble. The ringed seals 
that bears eat, and that humans hunt, are also dependent on the sea ice to 
rest, give birth, nurse and feed.

"...

"This study is the smoking gun. Skeptics, polluting industries and President 
Bush can't run away from this one," said Philip E. Clapp, president of the 
National Environmental Trust. He added the study showed "concrete evidence 
that global warming pollution is already having serious impacts."

Administration officials, who oppose mandatory curbs on carbon emissions on 
the grounds that it will cost U.S. jobs, said yesterday that they consider 
Arctic climate change an important issue and will work to draft policy 
recommendations for the region. Some European negotiators have complained 
that the U.S. State Department is resisting issuing policy guidelines based 
on the scientific study, a charge Bush officials deny.

"The United States is committed to working within the United Nations 
framework and elsewhere to develop an effective and science-based global 
approach to climate change that ensures continued economic growth and 
prosperity for our citizens and for citizens throughout the world," said 
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

"..."

_________________________
Peter Anderson, President
RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING
4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Ph: (608) 231-1100
Fax: (608) 233-0011
Cell: (608) 698-1314
eMail: anderson@no.address
web: www.recycleworlds.net

         CONFIDENTIAL
This message, and all attachments thereto,
is covered by the Electronic Communications
Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C., Sections 2510-2521.
This message is CONFIDENTIAL. If you are
not the intended recipient of this message,
then any retention, dissemination, distribution
or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. Please notify me if you received
this message in error at anderson@no.address
and then delete it.