C02 Emissions - Entering the Red Zone for a Catastrophic Climate Change Future

Recent reports (see below) indicate that even though some countries have consistently reduced their C02 emissions, global C02 production this past 2012 is the highest on record. In addition, global production trends appear to be dangerously pushing or exceeding levels required to keep global warming at or below 2 degrees Celsius. 

. . . global CO2 emissions are still on track to meet or exceed the most extreme emissions scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its 2007 report [that would be catastrophic climate change above 6 degrees Celsius], and by the scenarios the panel will use in the report it will release next year, scientists with the Global Carbon Project said.

The U.N. Environment Programme's "Emissions Gap 2012" report cautions that even if nations meet their strictest pledges, the world will not be able to cut its output of greenhouse gases in time to prevent runaway global warming (ClimateWire, Nov. 21).

Which unexamined presumption about our future underlies our private and public investment and planning? For which world future are we planning? Obviously, a very hot and virtually inhospitable one at the moment.

References:

Global CO2 Emissions from Fossil-Fuel Burning Rise into High-Risk Zone (Scientific American, Climate Wire, Dec 3, 2012).

The challenge to keep global warming below 2 °C (Nature Climate Change, Dec 2012)

The Emissions Gap Report 2012--A UNEP Synthesis Report (UNEP, Nov 2012)