The ‘Doomsday Clock’ stays at five minutes to midnight as scientists accuse world leaders of ignoring climate change
- Clock symbolises the future of humanity – with midnight ending our time on the planet
- Scientists say world leaders are ignoring climate change to focus on economic recovery
By Mark Prigg
PUBLISHED: 16:04 GMT, 15 January 2013 | UPDATED: 16:50 GMT, 15 January 2013
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The hands of the infamous ‘Doomsday Clock’ that shows the future of humanity will remain at five minutes to midnight, scientists said today.
The clock, which has midnight as a symbol for human destruction, has not moved since last year, the influential group of scientists behind it decreed.
However, they wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to partner with other global leaders to act on climate change and accusing world leaders of ignoring the problem to focus on economic recovery.
THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK
The Science and Security Board of the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, in consultation with the Governing Board and the Board of Sponsors, which includes 18 Nobel Laureates, reviews the implications of recent events and trends for the future of humanity with input from other experts on nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, climate change, and emerging threats.
The Clock hand has been moved 20 times over the past 65 years, since its appearance in 1947 on the first cover of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
‘The politics of economic recovery have distracted world leaders from the long-term threats that face humanity, specifically the dangers presented by climate change and nuclear weapons,’ said the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, who control the clock.
‘2012 was a year in which global problems pressed forward, but too many of its citizens stood back.’
The clock has remained stationary since January 2012, when the Clock’s hand was moved forward one minute, from six to five minutes before midnight.
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In an unusual move, Board members directly addressed US President Barack Obama in an open letter published today.
They acknowledge the steps the president took to ‘nudge the country along a more rational energy path,’ – but also warm of global warming’s effect on the US.
‘2012 was the hottest year on record in the contiguous United States, marked by devastating drought and brutal storms,’ the letter says.
‘These extreme events are exactly what climate models predict for an atmosphere laden with greenhouse gases. 2012 was a year of unrealized opportunity to reduce nuclear stockpiles, to lower the immediacy of destruction from weapons on alert, and to control the spread of fissile materials and keep nuclear terrorism at bay.
‘2012 was a year in which — one year after the partial meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station — the Japanese nation continued to be at the earliest stages of what will be a costly and long recovery.’
Robert Socolow, Chair of the Science and Security Board, said, ‘We have as much hope for Obama’s second term in office as we did in 2010, when we moved back the hand of the Clock after his first year in office.
‘This is the year for U.S. leadership in slowing climate change and setting a path toward a world without nuclear weapons.”
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Wether climate change is man made or not (jury is still out and will be for another 50 yrs plus) trying to control it is a useless waste of money because it will never work. As for the ‘self appointed ‘ climate experts they will always be stating that we are almost sure it is happening but we need more research (more money). As for the ludicrous prediction that the sea levels will rise by cm I wonder wether these scientists have ever been on the Pacific or the Atlantic oceans. As far as I can see melting all the ice on the planet would be like spitting in a reservoir.Still some people believe this rubbish.
– Kenny70 , Solihull, United Kingdom, 16/1/2013 17:58
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