For those who aren’t in Copenhagen this week, one quick way to listen in is to read the official UN Climate Thinkers blog: http://en.cop15.dk/blogs/climate+thinkers+blog. This blog includes entries from heads of state and senior ministers around the world, and clearly illustrates the scope and range of the issues at stake. It is also notable that none of the authors, including representatives of Arab states, doubt the reality or severity of human-caused climate change. There are many issues at stake in Copenhagen, but the basic science is not.In contrast, numerous studies are being released during the conference to underline the severity and rapid march of climate change. For example, today there is a new study that sea levels are rising much faster than predicted even two years ago: http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2964. And ocean acidity is predicted to cause irreversible damage to ocean ecosystems, worldwide: http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2961.