Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Doc Thompson’s 24-hour radio marathon, ‘#24forok,’ continues until 9 am ET — Listen Live!

Environment

Doomsday Clock Holds at 5 Minutes ’til Midnight Due to Climate Change

Jan. 17, 2013 7:13am

Last year the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its “Doomsday Clock” one symbolic minute closer to global disaster. In its latest announcement this year, the group of scientists, engineers and other experts held the clock at five minutes to midnight, not improving humanity’s condition due, in part, to the government’s inaction to curb man-made climate change.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Hold Doomsday Clock at Five Minutes Until Midnight and Write Letter to Obama

The Doomsday Clock moved to five minutes to midnight in 2012 and in 2013 remained the same. (Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

In its announcement regarding the stagnant state of the Doomsday Clock, which since 1947 has been warning humanity about threats to its survival, the Bulletin remarks on the “unusual move” made by board members in which they addressed President Barack Obama directly in a letter.

Although the board members praised Obama for actions that helped strengthen the nuclear security and his steps to “nudge the country along a more rational energy path” for renewable and non-renewable energy sources, it said the United States needed to make a more concerted effort to respond to climate change.

Here’s more from the letter:

This trend, while encouraging, is by no means evidence that the climate challenge has been met. In fact, the growth in low-carbon energy sources is dwarfed by the continued expansion of fossil fuels like coal — as was exemplified last year by the explosive development of unconventional fossil resources, such as tar sands, oil shale, and shale gas. With life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions that are even worse than their conventional counterparts, these unconventional fossil resources threaten to crowd out investment in renewables and to entrench a long-term dependency on carbon-intensive energy supplies.

Avoiding this scenario will require your administration to considerably speed the process of reforming the patchwork of federal subsidies, taxes, and other incentives and disincentives that distort energy markets. We look forward to substantial progress toward rational energy markets in 2013, including the pricing of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the economy.

[...]

In September 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will publish its fifth assessment of climate science, which will authoritatively document the changing climate. We call on you to commit your administration to firmly accept the panel’s scientific findings, urgently integrate these findings into national policy, and confidently face those who irresponsibly argue that climate change science is not relevant.

The letter also mentions cyber threats but takes a rather neutral stance as to how they they should be viewed at this point.

“In 2012, Mr. President, it became clear that cyber technologies, for all their benefits, could trigger a new kind of self-inflicted Doomsday. But how, when, and for whom remains unclear,” the letter reads.

In addition to expressing a hope to the president that the United States would continue making strides against cyber threats and protection of data, the board members state that they hope the President will also lead initiatives with regard to climate change mitigation and nuclear disarmament.

Read the full letter to President Obama here.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (17)

  • capecod1
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 2:14pm

    During the last ice age my region was buried beneath about 3 miles of ice. The climate of the earth has gone from warm to cold several times in it’s history. The last time I checked mammoths did not drive S.U.V.’s so how did all the glaciers melt? It is all a cycle!

    Report this comment

    capecod1  
  • SGT Rock
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 12:51pm

    I could use some global warming right now. I also have a bridge to sell you.

    Report this comment

    SGT Rock  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 12:34pm

    I’d say it’s 45 minutes past Doom thirty, and that makes it time for a beer………….

    Report this comment

    Detroit paperboy  
  • Mudd
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 8:59am

    The Left has us doomed due to climate chage, the Right has doomed due to God’s wrath. Both sides are warning us of something that can’t be proved so what’s the difference? The founding fathers are spinning in their graves.

    Report this comment

    Mudd  
  • DJ85
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 8:54am

    I guess every group has to be noticed. So in the end (doomsday), they day after??? are they wanting to be the first to say “We told you.”

    Report this comment

    DJ85  
  • mrunner
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:51am

    So… One decent sized volcano eruption puts out far more emissions than human activity does in several years. I think these brilliant minds should be working on the prevention of volcano eruptions. Once they solve that little issue- I may start listening to them! LMAO

    Report this comment

    mrunner  
  • MittensKittens
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:46am

    Climate change is cyclical people! When GOD decides our race will be done, not by the will of man.

    Report this comment

    MittensKittens  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:44am

    Is anyone else having issues with the new “submit button” and posting?

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • love the kids
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:37am

    I believe the planet is warming, but I believe it is naturally. If you were to believe that it is manmade, then the environmentalist that have put so many restrictions on carbon emissions are the ones actually responsible for it. They have shut down power in the US and forced manufactures to go to China to have goods made which pretty much use no emissions reductions.
    The globe was COOLING from 2000 until 2009, but now it is warming. This is fact. I believe also that trapping an outside energy source, the Suns energy, in the earths atmosphere is what is actually rising the temperature. And if you look at charts, the solar energy is going up just as the temperature is.

    Report this comment

    love the kids  
    • Xiccarph
      Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:54am

      Yeah, its those dang SUVs and coal power plants causing the sun to warm us more. Man made global warming is a farce, just like guns are the reason for murders. Global temps are not warming, its still in a cool period. Climate goes thru natural cycles whether man is on the planet or not. Man’s contribution is negligible, ineffectual. These so called “scientists and experts” are nothing more that political activists hoping for their next climate change research grant. The fact that these fakers now prefer the term climate change to global warming only shows they are not interested in science, but in keeping an agenda marching forward. Most don’t know, or care, what the difference is between weather and climate, and that these “great scientists” would actually expect the Earth systems to never change, remain exactly the same forever just for man’s spoiled self-centered convenience, and never go thru cycles is very telling.

      Report this comment

      Xiccarph  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:32am

    Automobiles produce Carbon Monoxide….

    Humans produce Carbon Dioxide….

    I don’t hear the Global warming climate change people complaining about their breath.

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • love the kids
      Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:39am

      Cars carbon Dioxide also, but they HAVE complained about breath, and cow farts.

      Report this comment

      love the kids  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:47am

      They do advocate population controls. Holdren (the presidents science advisor) advocated population control (which usually means forced abortion and euthanasia). Statists have no problems with mass killings in the name of their government friendly religious hysteria.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • Zipit
      Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:50am

      Shouldn’t ALGORE and his army, considering the news from Beijing the past couple of days, be mobilizing his army and moving to China to combat this almost certain disaster!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:53am

      Morning Cavallo,

      Have you read what’s on the Georgia Guidestones?

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2013 at 8:01am

      Hi love the kids,

      Double checked and yes, CO2 also. But that’s what all the plants breath to make Oxygen.

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love