No risk coverage for this one

Are we simply fooling ourselves? Appears so.

Governments have so far based their calculations for cutting emissions on only a 50:50 chance of holding temperature rises to 2C, the point that many scientists consider to be the threshold for catastrophic climate change which, once passed, will leave millions exposed to drought, hunger and flooding. This constitutes an unacceptable risk, says a report from Friends of the Earth.

It suggests that to have any reasonable chance – 70% rather than 50% – of avoiding dangerous climate change emissions will need to fall 16% by 2030 worldwide, based on 1990 levels.

If the maximum amount of global emissions the world could allow – what is called the remaining "carbon budget" – were shared out equally on the basis of average populations between now and 2050, the US would need to slash its emissions by as much as 95% by 2030, the EU by 83%, and the UK by 80%. Just a week ago, the government's climate advisers said the UK should aim for a 60% cut by 2030.

If historical, cumulative emissions are counted, the US and EU have already used more than their share of the global carbon budget. Emissions in these countries would need to cease immediately! Fat chance, especially in the US with the Republicans poised to take over!

If the world had cut emissions by just 1.5% a year even 15 years ago, a year after countries ratified the UN climate change convention, there would have been a good chance of avoiding a 2C rise in global temperatures, the report says.

We sure seem to be headed for a runaway warming scenario with no one wanting to make amends. Bleak future. But, who cares?!