I've made a surveymonkey of this so please can people fill it in so we get an idea of the group's views?
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QyDd_2fy3cpcZvMI5E3DsJGQ_3d_3d A 2008/12/18 Alvia Gaskill <[email protected]>: > [I've shown my responses. See below. I would guess that the overall > response would be 75% negative, however in terms of supporting > geoengineering research if one polled the IPCC scientists. AG] > > The Independent Survey on Geoengineering: should we have a "Plan B"? > The Independent newspaper in London is conducting a major poll of the world's > leading climate scientists to gauge their opinion on geoengineering – the > deliberate manipulation of the climate to counteract global warming. > Emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continue to increase at an > alarming rate – a one per cent increase per year, faster than even the IPCC's > worst-case scenarios. There are growing concerns that international > agreements may not succeed in curbing future CO2 levels to a point that > avoids dangerous climate change. > > Most experts would agree that is it essential to get a meaningful treaty at > Copenhagen next December to reduce carbon emissions: but should there be a > "plan B" if this approach looks like failing? > > You have been chosen as one of the key scientists involved in climate > research whose opinion we would value as a contribution to our survey. > Please could you find time to fill in this short questionnaire (attached). > > It should take no more than 10 minutes and you will have made a valuable > contribution to the wider public debate on climate change. You also have the > opportunity of providing a short statement for publication in the newspaper > or on our website. But, if you prefer, your contribution can remain > completely anonymous although we would need your name and affiliation for > compiling our data. > > We need to have the survey returned by our DEADLINE of 22 December 2008. > > It can be emailed back to this email address: [email protected] > > Thank you for your time. > > Chris > > > Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS > > Telephone 020 7005 2000 > > Fax 020 7005 2051 > > > > The Independent Survey on Geoengineering: Should we have a "Plan B"? > > > > > > The question we pose is whether a geoengineering strategy should exist in > parallel to a binding international treaty on carbon cuts. The Royal Society > in London is preparing a report on geoengineering to be published next > summer and is currently gathering evidence on proposals such as aerosols > release and ocean fertilisation. We would very much like you to voice your > opinion on geoengineering for a major article to be published in The > Independent newspaper. > > Please could you answer the following four questions as best you can. We > realise that the yes/no format is not ideal but it helps us to gauge whether > there is a consensus of opinion among a peer group of experts. There is room > at the end to provide a short comment for quotation as well, if desired. > > > > 1. Are you more, or less optimistic about the prospects of curbing CO2 > levels to avoid dangerous climate change now compared to ten years ago when > Kyoto was signed? > > > > More > optimistic………[ ] > > Less > optimistic ...…….[ X ] > > About > the same………[ ] > > > > 2. Are you more, or less optimistic about the ability of the Earth's climate > system to cope with expected increases in atmospheric carbon levels now > compared with 10 years ago given recent research on potential climate > feedbacks and carbon sinks? > > > > More > optimistic………[ ] > > Less > optimistic……….[ X ] > > About > the same………[ ] > > > > 3. Do you believe that talk of geoengineering is a dangerous distraction and > that on no account should it ever be considered as a viable option even if > carbon dioxide levels continue to rise? > > Agree…………………[ ] > > > Disagree………………[ > X] > > Don't > know…………...[ ] > > > > [This is a compound question, although I would expect that most who would > answer yes to the distraction question would also answer yes to the never > consider it an option part as well. AG] > > > > 4. Do you agree that we now need a "Plan B" whereby a geoengineering > strategy – research, development and possible implementation – is drawn up > in parallel to a treaty to reduce carbon emissions (subject to international > agreements and a scientific assessment of risk)? > > > > Agree…………………[ X ] > > > Disagree………………[ > ] > > Don't > know…………...[ ] > > > > Many thanks for completing this short questionnaire. Please feel free to add > a short comment (no more than 150 words) which explains your position on > geoengineering. Please include your name and institution and let us know > whether you would like your comments to be attributed. > > > > Your name: > > > > Your institution: > > > > Your short comment: (no more than 150 words) > > > > Would you like your comments attributed in a future article? Yes [ ] > No [ ] > > > > Please feel free to pass on this questionnaire to a suitably qualified > colleague involved in climate studies. > > > > Please send you replies to [email protected]. > > > > > > Our deadline for replies is 22 December 2008. > > > > > > Steve Connor > > Science Editor > > The Independent > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stephen Salter" <[email protected]> > To: "geoengineering" <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 12:12 PM > Subject: [geo] [Fwd: The Independent survey on geoengineering (URGENT)] > > >> Hi All >> >> Attached is a call from our Independent newspaper ( most respected one >> in the UK) about a geo-engineering enquiry they are holding. They want >> us to forward it to all our chums. Note the deadline of 22 December. >> >> Stephen >> >> -- >> Emeritus Professor of Engineering Design >> School of Engineering and Electronics >> University of Edinburgh >> Mayfield Road >> Edinburgh EH9 3JL >> Scotland >> tel +44 131 650 5704 >> fax +44 131 650 5702 >> Mobile 07795 203 195 >> [email protected] >> http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~shs >> >> >> The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in >> Scotland, with registration number SC005336. >> >> >> > >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
