MICHAEL OPPENHEIMER

A hotter, moister atmosphere is an atmosphere primed to trigger disasters.

The unthinkable is that we're distorting this atmospheric balance. We're shifting the chemical balance so that we have more poisons in the atmosphere - ozones and acid rain on ground level - while we're also changing the thermal climate of the earth through the greenhouse effect and - get this - simultaneously causing destruction of our primary filter of ultraviolet light. It's incredible. Talk about the national-debt crisis - we're piling up debts in the atmosphere, and the piper will want to be paid.

Climate change is here. We have to learn how to deal with it.

Whenever you involve scientists with politicians there is a struggle.

Mexican police will round up illegal American migrants surging into Mexico seeking work as field hands.

If we don't start with rapid emissions reductions and substantial emissions reductions, then we will pass a danger point, beyond which the consequences for many people and countries on Earth will simply become unacceptable and eventually disastrous.

Climate change is here. We have to learn how to deal with it.

Whenever you involve scientists with politicians there is a struggle.

The unthinkable is that we're distorting this atmospheric balance. We're shifting the chemical balance so that we have more poisons in the atmosphere - ozones and acid rain on ground level - while we're also changing the thermal climate of the earth through the greenhouse effect and - get this - simultaneously causing destruction of our primary filter of ultraviolet light. It's incredible. Talk about the national-debt crisis - we're piling up debts in the atmosphere, and the piper will want to be paid.

Mexican police will round up illegal American migrants surging into Mexico seeking work as field hands.

A hotter, moister atmosphere is an atmosphere primed to trigger disasters.

If we don't start with rapid emissions reductions and substantial emissions reductions, then we will pass a danger point, beyond which the consequences for many people and countries on Earth will simply become unacceptable and eventually disastrous.