By Simon Leufstedt
Wednesday, 25 June, 2008

About the Author

Simon Leufstedt is the editor of Green Blog. Simon has previously studied Global Environmental Justice and is currently studying Human Ecology and Political Science at Lund University in Sweden. Simon is also blogging over at the Swedish 350 website and working with the Swedish TckTckTck organisation. You can follow Simon on Twitter.

View all posts by Simon Leufstedt

Dr James Hansen says we should prosecute climate change liars

Dr James HansenDr James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York and one of the worlds most prominent climate scientist, says in an article on the WorldWatch Institute website that climate change liars “should be tried for high crimes against humanity and nature.”

“Instead of moving heavily into renewable energies, fossil fuel companies choose to spread doubt about global warming, just as tobacco companies discredited the link between smoking and cancer. Methods are sophisticated, including funding to help shape school textbook discussions of global warming.”

Dr James Hansen wrote the guest opinion entry titled “Global Warming Twenty Years Later” in light of his testimonial to the US congress, 20 years after his 1988 June 23 testimony. In it he warns that “we have used up all slack in the schedule for actions needed to defuse the global warming time bomb,” and that the “climate is nearing dangerous tipping points.” According to Dr James Hansen we only have two years left to act.

He also wrote that the “safe level of atmospheric carbon dioxide is no more than 350 ppm” and that the 450 ppm (two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) goal, that for example the European Union has agreed on, “is a recipe for global disaster, not salvation.”

Dr James Hansen urges that the “time is short” and that the 2008 USA election is “critical for the planet”. But when our politicians remain silent and at “loggerheads” we, the “citizens must lead.”

“We must demand a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. We must block fossil fuel interests who aim to squeeze every last drop of oil from public lands, off-shore, and wilderness areas. Those last drops are no solution. They yield continued exorbitant profits for a short-sighted, self-serving industry, but no alleviation of our addiction or long-term energy source.”

As Dr James Hansen says, “time is short.” So should we really wait for the mobs of climate change refugees to take out their revenge or should we start prosecuting these liars and climate criminals right now?

More Like This Story

Support This Author

Did you find this article interesting? If so, please consider supporting this author by clicking the Flattr button. All Flattr clicks from this button will go directly to Simon Leufstedt. Thank you for supporting our independent content creators!

Comment Guideline

Comments with profanity, personal attacks or objectionable material will be edited or deleted. Feel free to refute someone's points or offer counter arguments, but please do not engage in name calling.