I think we need to research geo-engineering solutions, but we need to be
very careful, because they could make things even worse (as palm oil has
done - the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from clearing forests
to grow it may well push us over the edge into climate chaos).
One thing that concerns me is that any 'solution' will only happen if it
makes money for multinational corporations, and they won't care about
any possible side effects, so will try to minimise them.
Chris
Oliver Tickell wrote:
>
>My own view (and that argued in Kyoto2 (the book)) is as follows:
>
>1. The dangers of a runaway greenhouse effect taking hold are such that we
>need to be ready to deploy geo-engineering solutions in that event.
>2. This means doing serious research on the subject now.
>3. We need to look for several things in the solutions chosen: immediacy of
>impact; rapid reversibility; low wider environmental impact (and if possible
>beneficial collaterals); and low cost.
>
>I don't think we should confuse biochar projects with geo-engineering.
>Biochar production is something rather long term which does of course
>sequester carbon but whose main benefit is probably in the form of soil
>improvement, enhancing fertility and water retention qualities. What it will
>not do is to turn around a runaway greenhouse phenomenon, though in the long
>term it is part of the solution set that we need to deploy.
>
>For geo-engineering options, most can be dismissed as costly, hard to
>reverse or plain crazy. But one that appeals to me is the idea developed by
>John Latham of using wind-powered ocean yachts to create and disperse saline
>micro-droplets to act as cloud condensation nuclei and so make marine clouds
>brighter and more reflective. This approach scores high on all the criteria
>listed above.
>
>More on all this in Kyoto2 pp.196-197 (biochar) and pp.198-205
>(geo-engineering). Oliver.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Discussion list for the Crisis Forum
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of CHRIS KEENE
>Sent: 31 July 2008 22:36
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [Fwd: Edinburgh- Lecturer in Social policy for biochar and soil
>carbon storage]
>
>I would be interested in knowing what people think of geo-engineering?
>Is it to become the new biofuels?
>
>Chris
>
>
>
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