THAT was the key phrase. Most extinctions happen when climate changes rapidly -- and that's the danger being anticipated now. Ecosystems can adapt when climate changes over millenia -- but not decades.
warmer temperatures are not necessarily a BAD thing,
Sure, human civilization might be able to adapt to 2-3 C of warming -- if it happened over 300-400 years. Over 100 years; Melting Andean Glaciers Could Leave 30 Million High and Dry
"With water supplies, agriculture, and power generation at risk, the World Bank and the funding agency Global Environment Facility are working together to develop adaptation strategies for local communities."
I recommend reading the full article; quite sobering. And this represents only a regional sampling. China is already quietly freaking out about the loss of water supply from Tibetan glaciers.
Ok, I see where you are going with this. Its a relative question. Yes change is inevitable, and slow change is usually better than quick change. But do we impose restictions on carbon emissions that could have an even more devestating effect on mankind? At what price? Or do we adapt? Mankind has never been better able to adapt to such changes in our history. And that supposes that the rate change will cause a 2-3 degree increase in any amount of time.
One last thing. The global warming alarmist crowd doesn’t want to slow the rate of change. They don’t even want to bring the rate of change to zero. They want us to reduce the actual amount we emmit yearly to 6% less than what it was in 1990. Thats the target based on Kyoto and I feel succeeding at achieving this in the 10 to 25 year time frame that most want to adhere to will be far more devastating than any global warming that might happen over 100 years. Thats a rate of change I for one am not willing to accept.
The push for governments to 'do something right now' about human caused global warming is being orchestrated by people who are looking for a power grab, pure and simple. That's why they're trying to shut down contrary research, and work hard to denigrate any scientist who is audacious enough to question their computer models.