Global Warming Catastrophe - New Evidence

The researchers have discovered that a mere six degrees of global warming was enough to wipe out up to 95% of the species which were alive on Earth at the end of the Permian period, 251 million years ago. Up to six degrees of warming is now predicted for the next century by UN scientists from the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if nothing is done about emissions of the greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide, which cause global warming.

The end-Permian mass extinction is now thought to have been caused by gigantic volcanic eruptions, which triggered a runaway greenhouse effect and nearly put an end to life on Earth. Conditions in what geologists have termed this 'post-apocalyptic greenhouse' were so severe that only one large land animal was left alive, and it took 100 million years for species diversity to return to former levels.

This dramatic new finding is revealed in a book by Bristol University's Head of Earth Sciences, Professor Michael Benton, which chronicles the geological efforts leading up to the discovery and its potential implications.

Professor Benton said: "The end-Permian crisis nearly marked the end of life. It's estimated that fewer than one in ten species survived. Geologists are only now coming to appreciate the severity of this global catastrophe and to understand how and why so many species died out so quickly."

Other climate experts say they are appalled that a disaster of such magnitude could be repeated within this century because of human activities. Global warming author Mark Lynas, who recently travelled around the world witnessing the current impacts of climate change, said the findings must be a wake-up call for politicians and citizens alike. "This is a global emergency," he said. "We are heading for disaster, and yet the world is still on fossil fuel autopilot. There needs to be an immediate phase-out of coal, oil and gas, and a phase-in of clean energy sources. People can no longer ignore this looming catastrophe."