Head NASA Scientist Makes Climate Change Plea To Obamas

James Hansen, one of NASA’s top ranking climate experts, has written a new year’s plea to the newly elected Presidential couple, the Obama’s.  In his letter, James Hansen has pointed out the public’s lack of awareness on climate change and the possible effects.  Hansen, who has been trying to get his message out, has meet with years of red tape created by lawyers and politicians.  His articles and reports have continued to be edited, his appearances limited and what he can say during interviews and talks, restricted.  The ultimate goal of these lawyers and politicians, is to cast some doubt about global warming and shield the truth from the eyes of the public.

James Hansen’s ultimate goal is to get started reversing our CO2 emissions while we still can because we are at a tipping point, but  once we start tipping, it will be impossible to tip back the other way.  He does all this for his grandchildren and all others because he has the information to save the planet. We have the technology now to get our planet back on track.  Just using the technology and getting the rest of the world to follow is going to be difficult.  Maybe with a new leader like Barack Obama at the helm and with the help of scientists like James Hansen, we stand a chance of all our grandchildren and their grandchildren will have a nice planet to grow up on.

Jim Hansen’s Requests:

• Moratorium on and phasing out of coal power stations without carbon capture, what Hansen calls the “sine qua non for solving the climate problem”. Coal CO2 emissions are the same as those of other fossil fuels combined.

• Raising the price of emissions via a “carbon tax and 100% dividend”. This is a tax mechanism to “decarbonise” the economy without a net take from taxpayers. Low carbon users are rewarded while high users are punished.

• Urgent research on “fourth generation” nuclear power with international co-operation. This offers one of the best options for nearly carbon-free power, according to Hansen.  It would also help to solve the nuclear waste problem by using that material as fuel.

Hansen’s calculations are very easy to follow. The current atmosphere contains particulates and based on a million particulates there are currently 385 co2 particulates per million. Hansen is saying that we are at the tipping point right now and we need to keep the particulates where they are now. If we add trees to our forests and have less meat consumption than we can slowly creep backwards.  We need to be at 350 part per million to stop the melting of the ice fields.  If the ice fields melt, it could mean an 80 foot rise in the worlds oceans. That would be catastrophic for all of us around the globe.

Jim Hansen On 60 Minutes:>

Jim Hansen On Climate Change:>

Jim Hansen Q&A:>