2012 Deadline

In 2004 the BBC ran a week of programming on climate change. This had 2 central themes. The UK’s Chief Scientist says, "Climate change is a greater threat than terrorism", and the Pentagon report to the US President and "Abrupt Climate Change Scenario.....".

Contacting the BBC (News Planning) to say I was the original author of the climate change / terrorism risk assessment, the BBC having read the original (it was live on line at the time) agreed I was the original author and not the Chief Scientist. Unfortunately they felt as I was not a media personality or celebrity it was not suitable to me to comment on what they agreed was my own work. The moral is beware what you hear in the media, there is a dumbing down of news and information, style takes precedence over substance and the celebrity campaigner’s views on the environment are the most important because they are a celebrity.

The Pentagon report to the President ‘An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario...’ is one of the most important works on the environment for Scotland as it covers the shutting down of the North Atlantic Conveyor, the Gulf Stream. If this happens potentially Scotland then suffers the ‘Day After Tomorrow' scenario, the instant ice age. Though since it’s publication the rate of global warming has increased so much that it may be negated by that rise.

One interesting part of the work is the forecasts for the future. On page 17 in their opinion, 2012 is the start of the big break down of civilisation. The point from which there is no return. As MP2 produced this figure 25 years ago and quite independently, the date of 2012 should be given a high degree of credibility.

Lovelock thinks we have gone past the point of no return and the deaths of billions is now an inevitability. The date of 2012 may be the last possible chance we have to save our lives and the planet, if we haven’t sorted out the complete global situation by then, we know our death and our extinction.

An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario is an easy, informative and influential read for anyone with an interest in society and the environmental challenge, especially in Scotland. Now over 3 years old and though showing it's age it is still worth a look.

This is the obscene scandal of the UK Government. They go for a massive project such as the Olympic Games, it’s resource use and emissions produced only hastening the impending environmental catastrophe, while doing nothing of the appropriate magnitude to ensure we have a 2012 to have an Olympics in.