....Global warming .... has become a runaway train that cannot be stopped. .... The warming of Earth and increases in sea levels "would continue for centuries … even if greenhouse gas concentrations were to be stabilized," according to a 20-page summary of the report that was leaked to wire services..../ The report also says scientists' "best estimate" is that temperatures will rise 3.2 to 7.8 degrees by 2100. In contrast, the increase from 1901 to 2005 was 1.2 degrees.

The report also projects that sea levels could rise by 7 to 23 inches by the end of the century, and perhaps an additional 4 to 8 inches if the recent melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the Larsen B ice shelf in western Antarctica continues at current rates. ... such an increase would inundate many low-lying areas around the world, including islands such as Kiribati in the western Pacific Ocean and marsh areas near New Orleans. Such flooding would affect more than 10 million people.

The report also predicts a melting of Arctic ice during summers and a slowing of the Gulf Stream. LA Times

The debate on global warming is over

That's the ultimate message from the report released in Paris today by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the U.N. body of leading researchers charged with analyzing climate science and producing the final word on what is happening — and will happen — to our planet. IPCC scientists now say that it is "very likely" that global warming is chiefly driven by the buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases caused by human activity, and that dangerous levels of warming and sea rise are on the way.
Those two words — the product of 2,500 scientists, 130 nations and 6 years of work — translates into a certainty of over 90%, up from the 66 to 90% chance the panel reported in its last major climate change assessment in 2001. That might not seem like a big difference, but in science, especially in a field as rapidly developing as climate studies, 90% is as good as it gets. The new report effectively completes a scientific revolution that began at the end of the 19th century, when a Swedish geochemist named Svante Arrhenius first proposed that CO2 released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels could change the planet's climate. "The message of this report is that the time for sitting on the fence is finished," says Robert Watson, chief scientist at the World Bank and a former chair of the IPCC. "Now is the time for action. Time

France 'dims' for climate protest

The lights of Paris dimmed for five minutes on Thursday in a nationwide "lights out" campaign, aimed at raising public awareness over global warming.
The Eiffel Tower, lit by 20,000 bulbs, also went dark at 1955 (1855 GMT).
During the switch-off, the power grid operator RTE observed a fall of 800 megawatts, representing just over 1% of France's total consumption. It comes a day before the release in Paris of a major report warning of humanity's role in climate change. BBC News

A view of Rome's ancient Colosseum with its lights switched on after a five-minute "lights-out" gesture between 7:55 p.m. and 8 p.m. (1855-1900 GMT) part of an environmental campagin, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007. The move was to show solidarity with the French activists who have asked citizens to turn off their lights and other illuminated devices such as televisions and computers in a show of unity before Friday's release in Paris of a major report on climate change. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Exxon posts biggest annual profit ever ..(more than $75,000 every minute..) Exxon Mobil Corp. Thursday reported the biggest annual profit on record for a U.S. corporation - earning more than $75,000 every minute of 2006 on the back of record oil prices.

The world's biggest publicly traded company by revenue posted net earnings of $39.5 billion on revenue of $377.6 billion last year, topping its previous profit record of $36.1 billion in 2005, which at the time was the largest for any U.S. company. CNN Money

French to explore value of napping on the job The French already enjoy a 35-hour workweek and generous vacation. Now the health minister wants to look into whether workers should be allowed to sleep on the job.
France launched plans this week to spend $9 million this year to improve public awareness about sleeping troubles. About 1 in 3 French people suffer from them, the ministry says. Fifty-six percent of French complain a poor night’s sleep has affected their job performance, according to the ministry Detroit Free Press

World's scientists say climate change is much worse than they thought

... The final version of the IPCC's latest report is to be published on Friday but a draft copy, seen by The Independent, makes it clear that climate change could be far worse than previously thought because of potentially disastrous "positive" feedbacks which could accelerate rising temperatures.

A warmer world is increasing evaporation from the oceans causing atmospheric concentrations of water vapour, a powerful greenhouse agent, to have increased by 4 per cent over the sea since 1970. Water vapour in the atmosphere exacerbates the greenhouse effect. This is the largest positive feedback identified in the report, which details for the first time the IPCC's concern over the uncertainties - and dangers - of feedback cycles that may quickly accelerate climate change... Belfast Telegraph

Stonehenge workers' village found

Archaeologists have uncovered what may have been a village for workers or festival-goers near the mysterious stone circle Stonehenge in England.

The village was located at Durrington Walls, about two miles from Stonehenge, and is also the location of a wooden version of the stone circle.

Eight houses have been excavated and the researchers believe there were at least 25 of them, archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson said Tuesday at a briefing held by the National Geographic Society. (Watch scientist describe big parties for Stonehenge builders)
CNN

Commuters in cages ... Obtained by the Herald under a freedom of information request, they show much of the dissatisfaction is due to overcrowding and insufficient carriages during peak periods.

One passenger complained: "It was standing room only to Thirroul today. And it is likely to get worse, as Mondays and Fridays are usually the quieter commuting days. How dare you treat us like livestock.

"It doesn't take a maths genius to figure out that if you cancel a train the commuters don't just disappear." The Sydney Morning Herald