Before we can effectively address and debate the consequences it might be wise to have a better understanding of the exact problem.
I almost agree. What I don't agree with is "exact". We don't have to distinguish between human activity causing 50 % of the problem and our activity causing 35 or 65 %. Anywhere in that range makes us significant in my view. Others might say anywhere from 20 % upwards but I'm not going to fuss about the exact number.
I do agree we need to understand our contribution to the climate change that is underway as we type here.
So do we have any idea? As I understand the physics we
know that adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere will increase the over all temperature of the earth. We can even produces some pretty sound calculations as to the amount. We also have a pretty good idea of how much our activities have added.
We are told by the IPCC that putting these together says that we are, indeed, a significant factor in the change of the earth's climate. There is enough information to know that we should start to take action (as much of the world is doing although probably too slowly).
What is much more difficult to determine is how serious the consequences will be. The speed with which we take action and the magnitude of the resources we commit should be based on the seriousness of the consequences. Which I think is implied by your comment.
So are the very conservative estimates of the IPCC are for a global catastrophe costing many trillions. That's my guess based on a meter or so rise in sea level in the next 85 years.
But there are less conservative values you could plug into the cost-risk equation too.
If CO2 levels keep climbing without mitigation then we
know that we'll have a 200 foot rise in sea level. We just don't know how fast. We'd better figure that out really, really soon. If we don't want to commit too many resources to mitigation yet then we sure has hell should be committing lots to determining what the risks are.
My personal totally wild and crazy guess is that we are facing much larger change in a much shorter time than the consensus IPCC estimates give right now.
My brother lives about 2 meters above sea level. Lovely spot it is. A one meter rise would bring storm tides to his doorstep. I'm speculating that in about 10 to 15 years he will have to be out of there. There are tipping points hidden out there and they will bite us I'm afraid. Hopefully I am wrong as I so often am.
Edited by NosyNed, : No reason given.