Don't tell Al Gore (my emphasis):
A rapid cutback in greenhouse gas emissions could speed up global warming, the veteran environmental maverick James Lovelock will warn in a lecture today.Prof Lovelock, inventor of the Gaia theory that the planet behaves like a single organism, says this is because current global warming is offset by global dimming - the 2-3ºC of cooling cause by industrial pollution, known to scientists as aerosol particles, in the atmosphere.
On second thought, Gore probably already knows -- he's a follower of the Gaia theory. This theory posits that the Earth functions as one big "superorganism." It holds that "all living things have a regulatory effect on the Earth's environment that promotes life overall." This whole concept is quite controversial to say the least, which means two things right off the bat: Al Gore, as a follower, shouldn't be taken too seriously. And Lovelock, as one of the theory's main proponents, should likewise not be taken too seriously.
At any rate, I wonder what Gore's reaction to his "mentor's" news will be. We're all told that "the debate is settled" about global warming, that "we must act NOW!" and that to wait will be "catastrophic." Al's probably on the horn now yelling "Thanks a LOT, James!!"
UPDATE: Semi-related hilarity alert: Former New Hampshire Gov. and current Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen on the California wildfires:
"These wildfires are a direct result of this Administration's failure to do something about Global Warming."
"Direct result." Either she's a high scorer on the low-IQ test, or she's one of the more shameless political opportunists around.