It's the [CO2-induced] end of the world as Paul Gilding knows it, and I feel fine

Get ready for a new global crisis, warns author | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

SYDNEY, July 21 (Reuters Life!) - Soaring food and energy prices, the global financial crisis, Greece's debt woes. One-off events? Not according to environmental business consultant Paul Gilding, who believes these are mere ripples before a major crisis hits the world.
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"We are about to witness humanity deal with its biggest crisis ever, something that will shake it to the core -- the end of economic growth," added the 52 - year-old Australian, who as an activist was arrested five times during protests.
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He cites modelling by a group of scientists -- the Global Footprint Network -- showing that in 2009 we were already running the global economy at 140 percent of capacity, and plans to run it faster and harder as populations soar will hit a wall.
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"We will not respond to climate change or sustainability even when it's clear we risk wiping out 50 percent of the diversity of life on earth. We will respond when the threat is to our economy and lifestyle."
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"I think we'll have another major financial crisis within a few years," he added, speaking by phone from his home in the island of Tasmania, after recently returning from an overseas tour to promote his book.
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So what are we supposed to do? Gilding says the stark view that it's too late now to avoid a crisis at first caused him despair -- he recalls breaking down sobbing during a 2007 presentation on the issue to a business audience in New York.
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The author sees massive industrial and economic shift to contain climate change, including eliminating net CO2 emissions within 20 years, with a 50 percent cut in the first five years.

Among a series of measures, he foresees the closure of 1,000 dirty coal power plants within five years and the building of huge wind and solar farms. He suggests half the world's aircraft might have to be stranded to cut emissions.