Global warming - Warning: We must listen

Twenty years ago last week scientist James Hansen was the first person to recognise and highlight the phenomenon of global warming.

Recent events, such as the frightening flooding in different parts of the globe, are a grim confirmation of his assessment.

Scientists may argue about the causes, but Dr Hansen was quite definite 20 years ago.

Testifying before a US Senate committee in June 1988, he blamed the energy company bosses, whom he accused of “crimes against humanity and nature”.

Marking the 20th anniversary of his famous congressional testimony, he sounded even louder warnings last week when he told the National Press Club in Washington: “We really are in a planetary emergency.”

Greenhouse gas emissions have continued to grow over those past two decades and he predicts that there will be no natural ice left on the planet in 33 years’ time. This will have enormous ecological implications.

Developing countries like China and India are expanding rapidly. Their levels of greenhouse gas emissions has frightening implications.

Despite all the warnings the United States has built 21 coal-burning plants in those 20 years. Is anybody listening?