James Lovelock on radio four 30 03 2010

The man who achieved global fame for his theory that the whole earth is a single organism now believes that we can only hope that the earth will take care of itself in the face of completely unpredictable climate change.
Interviewed by Today presenter John Humphrys, videos of which you can see below, he said that while the earth's future was utterly uncertain, mankind was not aware it had "pulled the trigger" on global warming as it built its civilizations.What is more, he predicts, the earth's climate will not conveniently comply with the models of modern climate scientists.
As the record winter cold testifies, he says, global temperatures move in "jerks and jumps", and we cannot confidently predict what the future holds. Prof Lovelock does not pull his punches on the politicians and scientists who are set to gain from the idea that we can predict climate change and save the planet ourselves.
Scientists, he says, have moved from investigating nature as a vocation, to being caught in a career path where it makes sense to "fudge the data". And while renewable energy technology may make good business sense, he says, it is not based on "good practical engineering".At the age of 90, Prof Lovelock is resigned to his own fate and the fate of the planet. Whether the planet saves itself or not, he argues, all we can do is to "enjoy life while you can".

Category:

News & Politics

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• James
• lovelock
• Gaia
• 30
• 03
• 2010
• radio

[mahatmaBit]

I'm afraid the good old man might be right...

Personally I find it disappointing that he considers technological solutions impossible. Maybe we can develop a good mix of renewables and efficiency usage to do the trick.

But probably only a deep society change can make adapt to new circumstances.

In the worst case scenarios more wars - we are only human :(

PS:

loveandrespect85 - what software did you use to rip these interviews? i live outside the uk and have limited access to bbc content...

[loveandrespect85]

@mahatmaBit Camtasia studio 6 (and with the free divx codec, screen capture rate - 25 frames/sec, audio - mp3 (techsmith lame) 44.100kHz, stereo....this was after trying camstudio and unsuccessfully syncing the sound with image).

[carioca56]

Lovelock says "renewables are a joke," and "nuclear is better than coal," and that means that the only way we can maintain our current level of living is to have fewer people---far fewer.

Looks like that day will finally come.

[vertualsurfing]

that's our environment in a test tube, played in fast forward...for every action...there is a RE-action...and we are now beginning to experience the REACTION of OUR ACTIONS...

[vertualsurfing]

humans are the 'EST' of any animal that ever lived....the dumbEST, the dirtyEST, the the greedyEST, etc, etc....but how anyone could think 6-billion people using every polluting resource available dumping all the CO2 in a thin film 'membrane' of an environment...24/7...couldn't make dramatic changes...well that's a whole new level of ignorance....as a test (for even the simplEST of minds)..start a small aquarium, feeding, feeding, never cleaning or replenishing the water and just let it go...

[TeoTanek]

James Lovelock is our Hari Sheldon, however there will be no fundation to guide our future, just luck and maybe some desperate and late efforts.

[walter0bz]

How to convince all the people that think this is "NWO propoganda?" :(

[ontheearthproduction]

great video, thanks for posting.

[sweetypie000]

i like the tact 'fudging'

i'm a little more blunt and call it 'lying'

[sweetypie000]

yep, we are doomed and man won't change his way

Lovelock is a genius and glad to have him in the world having the want to say it how it is

[Cl1mateAware]

Humanity needs a change of heart

Check out William Tarkovskys eco-video The Book of New Creation