March 6, 2004: Global Warming and Climate Change - Jim Motavelli

Art Bell welcomes Jim Motavelli, editor of E/The Environmental Magazine and author of Feeling the Heat, for a wide-ranging discussion on global climate change. They examine recent alarming reports from NASA, the Pentagon, Fortune magazine, and Woods Hole about the possibility of abrupt climate shifts, including the potential shutdown of the Atlantic conveyor belt that could plunge Europe into sudden cooling.

Motavelli presents evidence from 400,000 years of ice core data showing an unprecedented spike in carbon dioxide levels correlating with the industrial era. Art and Jim discuss the real-world effects already underway, from disappearing Arctic ice and migrating animal populations to island nations facing submersion. Swiss Re, the world's second-largest insurance company, has created an entire global warming department, signaling the economic gravity of the situation.

The conversation turns to geopolitical consequences, including the Pentagon report warning of potential nuclear conflict over dwindling resources by 2020. They debate whether hydrogen fuel cells and renewable energy could offer solutions, while acknowledging the political barriers standing in the way of meaningful change.