http://www.technologyreview.com/Video/?vid=502
This is a cautious position statement, from Professor Ronald Prinn at MIT, who had previously dismissed geoengineering. He says we should wait before geoengineering because: (1) We do not yet know what temperature we might have by the end of the century (various scales are shown in the video). [JN: Yet we do know that even the current temperature represent dangerous warming for some countries experiencing drought, and some low-lying countries experiencing sea-level rise. Can we afford to wait for certainty as to how high the temperature might be, before we act?] (2) We do not know enough about the Earth system to have any idea whether geoengineering would work. [JN: Yet we have a good idea from basing geoengineering on natural processes which can be studied and modelled.] (3) Reducing emissions is considered the best option, and geoengineering a "last resort". [JN: Yet emissions reductions alone cannot prevent tipping points being reached in Arctic and elsewhere.] Nevertheless, it represents a slight shift in opinion of an important figure in scientific circles. Is anybody able to contact Professor Prinn, to discuss his position in this, our geoengineering forum? Cheers, John -- 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.
