E3G

The Independent: Earth’s natural defences against climate change ‘beginning to fail’

By Quentin de Molliens

In the run up to the G8 summit at Heiligendamm in Germany, The Independent carries an article looking at the concern expressed by scientists over the fast rise of atmospheric CO2 levels.

A new study ‘Saturations of the Southern Ocean CO2 sink due to recent climate change’, published in the journal Science, suggests that stabilization of carbon emissions is even more difficult to achieve than previously thought.

The article states that the Earth’s natural defence systems are beginning to fail, in particular referring to the ability of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica to absorb CO2.

The Independent looks at the potential political implications of this, and quotes E3G founding director Tom Burke, who stated that:

This is a timely warning in advance of Heiligendamm and the G8 that the climate clock is beginning to tick faster.”