**5.4 Fossil fuels and climate change**

On a marginally hopeful note, Rutledge (2010) concludes that actual fossil fuel consumption will be less than projected in *any* of the emissions scenarios considered by the IPCC (2000), yielding a peak atmospheric CO2 concentration of 455 parts per million. If he is correct, the world has already experienced roughly half of the maximum temperature rise that will occur from fossil fuel burning—although impacts such as rising sea levels and vanishing glaciers will continue to unfold beyond 2150.

It is unlikely that the possible stabilization of long-term climate will greatly relieve stress on agricultural systems by mid-century—especially compared to the associated direct challenge of rising fossil fuel prices.
