VIDEO: James Hansen: United Nations’ Plans to Limit Emissions Are ‘Half-Arsed’

James Hansen, one of the world’s leading atmospheric scientists, has warned the United Nations that its current attempt to prevent global temperatures from rising is “half-arsed and half-baked” and risks giving future generations a climate system that is uncontrollably destructive.

ABOVE: At the U.N. climate conference in Paris, Hansen delivers his message to “Democracy Now!’

The Guardian reports:

James Hansen, former head of Nasa’s Goddard Center and the man who raised awareness of climate change in a key Senate hearing back in 1988 said that the UN meeting was on the wrong track by seeking a 2C maximum rise in temperatures.

“What I am hearing is that the heads of state are planning to clap each other on the back and say this is a very successful conference. If that is what happens, we are screwing the next generation, because we are doing the same as before.

“[A rise of ] 2C is definitely dangerous. We are at the point now where temperatures are hitting the 1C mark and are are on a path above 1C. Even if we reduce emissions 6% a year we will still get 1C.

“Instead we hear the same old thing as Kyoto [in 1997]. We are asking each country to cap emissions, or reduce emissions. In science when you do a well conducted experiment you expect to get the same result. So why are we talking about doing the same again? This is half-arsed and half-baked.” […]

“It’s not too complicated. It’s not that the problem cannot be solved but that it is not being solved. We need an honest, simple rising carbon fee.”

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.