Greenhouse gases will postpone next ice age

The increased amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide is a main factor behind the ongoing climate change issue. According to a recent study published in a journal Nature Geoscience the increased amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will also postpone the coming of next ice age on Earth.

The scientists estimate that so far there have been at least five ice ages in Earth's past. Term ice age refers to a certain period characterized by a long-term reduction in the earth's surface and atmospheric temperature, which represents ideal conditions for the growth of ice sheets and glaciers.

Our planet is currently in so called interglacial period which started 10,000-15,000 years ago. The end of this period and new ice age are expected in around 1,500 years time, if atmospheric concentrations of main greenhouse gas – carbon dioxide (CO2), do not exceed 240 parts per million by volume (ppmv).

The current concentrations of CO2 are somewhere around 390 ppmv, and keeping that level of CO2 emissions or increasing it will postpone the coming of new ice age.

While the fact that the next ice age will be postponed looks like good news, everything else about climate change and global warming looks negative.

The scientists say we should limit the global temperature rise to within 2 degrees Celsius in order to avoid major climate change threats such as extreme weather events and sea level rise. However, world is doing very little to achieve this goal because fossil fuels are still being heavily used all across the globe, and there also seems to be no chance for any meaningful climate change agreement in near future.

Climate change - Nothing will change in 2012?

The world leaders still haven't agreed to commit to major greenhouse gas emission cuts and without this type of legal agreement world doesn't stand a chance in fight against global warming and climate change.

Every new year without the major cuts in emissions brings us one step closer to a climate change tipping point, a 2C temperature increase, seen by many scientists as the point of no return and a ticket to a worst possible climate change scenario.

The scenario that involves frequent extreme events, floods, drought, new diseases, many extinct species, and more hunger in the world. Sadly this scenario doesn't seem to be enough for world leaders to act quickly as they are constantly delaying actions for "better days".

These days world is more worried about major financial uncertainties connected with United States and EU, and world leaders are yet again giving all their attention to global financial woes, leaving very little room for global environmental issues on their political agenda.

It's like they are hoping that climate change issue will solve itself without their intervention and without major cuts in emissions. They are still not aware that climate change is no longer just a environmental issue but also social and economic issue that could forever change the future of our civilization.

All hope is still not lost though there's very little of it still left among the most incurable optimists. We are gambling with the future of our planet and the stakes are really high. The political bluff is no longer enough to win the pot with such high stakes.