Image courtesy / MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change

Global warming, already high on the list of major problems, is much worse than we thought according to a new study by MIT. The image you see above are the updated odds of how much hotter the earth’s climate will be by 2100 as calculated by MIT Integrated Global Systems Model. It is the most comprehensive modeling done to date – the only one taking into account not only climate processes but also possible changes in human activities in different countries, such as economic growth and its associated energy use.

Shown as a roulette wheel, on the left you can see the change if we take aggressive, effective policy action and on the right, what will happen if we don’t. They call it the Greenhouse Gamble. So we’ve got to ask ourselves one question: Do we feel lucky?

If your answer is yes, then we just keep on doing what we are doing right now. If the answer is no, to quote the Union of Concerned Scientists: “Because U.S. emissions of heat-trapping gases are so high, Americans have a special responsibility and opportunity to work to reduce the threat of global warming. You can help by taking personal action, encouraging community action, and influencing US action.”

I love the fact that they address these three different levels of actions, since it the same approach that we try to take in the Interdependence Project’s Integral Activism work. And in that work, we talk about how meditation practice is something that can be part of our work towards changing the world that we live in, including government policies. How do you think that mindfulness and meditation practice can tilt the odds in favor of effective policy action needed to help slow global warming?

Oh, and if you feel the need to do something right now, you can send a message that a Strong Climate Bill Must be a Top Priority for Congress. Also, check out C-SPAN’s coverage of Congress working on “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009“ which will be happening most of this week.