Book Review on Global Warming

In the March 10 issue of Chemical and Engineering News, Cherie Turner reviews a new book, entitled, "The Burning Question". In her review, Sherry modifies the title to, "The Challenge of Climate Change" with the subtitle saying that the "Authors confront choice between unencumbered economic growth and the health of Earth's environment". So much for the baloney!
Cherie mentions that in the Copenhagen protocol of 2009, negotiators agreed that humans should aim to limit the increase in global temperature to no more than 2°C over preindustrial levels. This is a ridiculous goal! It presumes that man can control the activity of the Sun, which is our only significant source of life-giving heat.
Cherie then goes on to discuss the assertions of the book. The authors are Mike Berners-Lee and Duncan Clark. They say, "We can't burn half the world's oil, coal and gas, so how do we quit?" This seems like a strange statement to me. Why can't we burn half the world's oil, coal and gas, or even more? Presumably, they make the statement because they don't want it burned, which is evident in the second half of the sentence, when they talk about quitting.
The authors say that it is quite clear that CO2 emissions are a major contributor to global warming. I wonder how they obtain this great insight? It's not clear to me and my vision seems to be as good as anybody else's. Could it be "clear" to the authors only because they want it so?
The authors complain that compared with the level of risk [global warming], public concern has been conspicuous by its absence. They say that one reason for lack of public concern is that the problem is complex and the average person may not understand climate change or why it is important, especially considering that the worst of the effect will take place far in the future. More baloney! The public is pretty sharp. It generally sees that with all claims of global warming increase caused by carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, it sees no real connection. This puts it in a category of the Chicken Little story about how the sky is falling.
The authors also complain that because burning fossil fuels is cheap energy, developing countries will go that route with increasing emissions of carbon dioxide. For that reason, the authors want global restrictions. However, the developing countries can rightly claim that there is no justification for an international body to interfere with their sovereignty, especially since there is no established connection between the supposed disastrous effects of global warming and carbon dioxide emissions.
The authors discuss various solutions, other than limiting the burning of fossil fuels. Among them is carbon capture and storage, which is only usable at great expense. Then again, why bother with that if carbon dioxide emissions are not significant to global warming? May we have some scientific proof that they are related, as opposed to the presently often repeated hollow claim that they are?
Reviewer Cherie seems to have been converted, because she says that, "Solving climate change won't be easy, and we probably won't like the solutions, but we must find a way to change our path or face some possible apocalyptic consequences". More baloney of fear mongering! Is apparently a believer of the "sky is falling" hypothesis.
Before we finished this review of the review, let's go back to the subtitle saying, "Authors confront choice between unencumbered economic growth and the health of Earth's environment". The implication is that Earth's environment will be severely compromised by the continued burning of fossil fuels. However as mentioned above, no proof or even logical reasons have been given to make that statement. Many others claim that the Earth environment can go merrily on its way with continued burning of carbon containing fossil fuels. Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration will have no significant effect on global warming, increased storms, or other disasters. In fact, higher atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration will promote plant growth and help feed the world.