For those of us keeping track of environmental and energy news, this week has been very depressing and makes one fear for the not-so-distant future.

Some snippets:

A new study shows that carbon dioxide has been accumulating in the atmosphere in far greater amounts than estimated by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the use of their climate change models. CO2 levels are as much as 35% higher since 2000 than estimated by the IPCC, making their climate change estimates over the coming years and decades entirely too optimistic. The reasons are primarily the inefficient use of fossil fuels, the strong growth of India and China, and the saturation of the world’s oceans with CO2 to the point that they can’t absorb any more. Result: global warming is likely to be far more severe than current predictions, as if they weren’t bleak enough.

In typical cowardly politician fashion, British Labour ministers are advising Prime Minister Gordon Brown to effectively abolish the goal stated by Tony Blair of having 20% of European energy come from renewable sources, citing the plan as too expensive and facing “severe practical difficulties.” Absolutely shameful. I wonder what they’ll think of the expense when parts of Britain go under water?

Speaking of under water, Bangkok is sinking fast. Bangkok is giving us a preview of what is to come, being one of 13 of the 20 largest cities in the world at risk of being engulfed by water as the oceans rise by 2100.

Atlanta has only 80 days of of drinking water left due to the worst drought in the Southeast on record, as its reservoir Lake Lanier runs bone dry. After that there will be little to no water left for taking showers, cooking, drinking, or anything else. Severe water restrictions are in place across the area. (Thanks to my friend Francis-Maria for the heads up.)

Fires rage out of control in Southern California. Thousands of homes have been incinerated.

Last but not least, a new study based on actual oil production rather than government-skewed estimates states that “peak oil” passed in 2006–that is, the point in time where the world will produce the most petroleum it can. From this point forward comes a decline that could reach as much as 7% a year. This suggests that extreme shortages possibly leading to “war and unrest” are in the immediate future as the world will produce only half as much oil in 2030 as it does today, starving growing economies of the energy they need. Meanwhile, crude oil has soared to around $90 a barrel as of last Friday; the markets sense something very rotten in Denmark. $4 gas? $5 gas? $10+ gas? Get prepared.

Can we act swiftly enough to tackle these simultaneous crises affecting the entire human race? I grow more pessimistic by the day.