"Horrifying" new ice-core data reveals that around 5 million years ago there was massive melting of the Ross Ice Shelf, destabilizing the earth's climate for the following 3.5 million years. This is how Viereck-Gotte and other scientists from the Antarctic Geological Drill team are describing the situation. They are extremely alarmed at the scale of melting which had occurred due to an increase in average global temperature of only 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.

The findings from high-tech ice core drilling near Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, also showed that the starting temperature was much lower than today.

"The melting of the Ross Ice Shelf, currently the size of France, would literally leave just a 'Ross Bay' as it did 5 million years ago. Not only would the melted ice cause sea levels to rise, it would force land-based ice to shift, breaking up dramatically, and cause the breakdown of the oceans' global conveyor belt thermohaline circulation system," said Matthew Wright, Beyond Zero Emissions campaigner.

A vital function of this giant mass of ice is that it provides the thrust of global ocean currents by causing an immense quantity of water to cool and plunge 1500 metres below the sea, which in turn creates these global currents that amongst other important global climate effects keep Western Europe from being as cold as Siberia.

"Leading NASA climatologist James Hansen is giving grave warnings against building any new conventional coal power plants, and for the need to replace existing polluting plants, going to zero emissions in the process. With this new ice-core evidence we can be sure that we have underestimated the fragility of our planet's climate. To avoid catastrophe we need to move to Zero Emissions Minus, fast," said Mr Wright.

"New Zealand is now dedicated to a transition of all its sectors to carbon neutrality. In seizing its own opportunity for leadership, Australia can create the right climate for the rest of the world to move towards Near Zero Emissions and Beyond."

Beyond Zero Emissions has produced scoping documents for moving the electricity sector to Near Zero Emissions and is currently turning to a focus on transport.

Refrigeration System for the Earth's Oceans Threatens to Break Down

Jim Hansen's presentation on Global Warming

Why Zero Emissions Now #1 (Before 2020)
Why Zero Emissions Now #2 (Before 2020)

For comment ring:
Matthew Wright - 0421 616 733

www.beyondzeroemissions.org
Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign.