Kevin, to my mind, has hit the nail on the head. Faced with a trajectory toward risks on a global scale, but without hard evidence, is it possible for humans to adjust current behaviors and investments to protect generations yet unborn? Not clear at all yet that this is possible. In fact, that’s the question I plan to explore in depth next year in The Times and subsequently in my next book.
As for what the world may be like, some modelers have looked out into the 22nd century, where the picture of possible futures actually in some ways is clearer than in the short term because the levels of greenhouse gases are potentially so very high.
I did a story precisely one year ago that is accompanied by an animation loop showing temperature trends in one scenario.
posted on October 31st, 2006 at 5:48 am