I saw the program in question yesterday, although I didn't see the interview. Obviously, most of the issues were fairly familiar, but there was one thing which really pricked my ears up.
This group has been focussing intently on the sea ice loss in the arctic, and globally theres a lot of concern over Greenland. However, the show poos attention to sea waters warming around Antarctica, consequential ice shelf collapse, and the resultant draining of the Antarctic continent by glacial acceleration. Bearing in mind the history of underestimated change in the arctic, I'd be very keen to hear from the group what is the current 'worst realistic' scenario for Antarctica melt, and how applicable geoengineering is to preventing this. The southern ocean is much more isolated from the thermohaline circulation than is the arctic, so I'm unclear as to the possibility of regional geoengineering. It would be good to hear views. A On Dec 12, 2011 1:59 PM, "Josh Horton" <joshuahorton...@gmail.com> wrote: > On a BBC interview show ... > > > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/8949297/Sir-David-Attenborough-says-geo-engineering-solutions-to-climate-change-are-fascist.html > > > Sir David Attenborough says geo-engineering solutions to climate > change are 'fascist' > > Sir David Attenborough, the wildlife presenter, has described high- > tech “geo-engineering” solutions to climate change as “fascist” > because they put too much power in the hands of advanced nations. > > Sir David, 85, said he believed that global warming was inevitable but > that everything possible should be done to slow the process. > However, he added that said that large-scale geoengineering projects - > such schemes to remove carbon monoxide from the atmosphere – were > problematic. > Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday, he said: > “Geoengineering is a very difficult thing because what that means is > that you allow one nation or, indeed, one small group within that > nation to determine what's going to happen to the whole globe. > ”And they may say 'Yes, we are absolutely confident about the science' > but what about all those other people who don't know about that? > “It's, dare I say the word, fascist.” > > Sir David’s latest work is the Frozen Planet series, the final > instalment of which was broadcast last week. > Frozen Planet - and its presenter – have been criticised for promoting > opinions on global warming. > Lord Leach of Fairford, a Tory peer who claims global warming is > debatable, said: “He’s very endearing but I don't think there's any > truth to what he says - he has no idea about it. > “The fact is you can be jolly nice to monkeys but it isn't the same as > knowing what you're talking about on climate change.” > Sir David also had an exchange of views with Lord Lawson, the former > Chancellor, who accused the presenter of “sensationalism”. > Speaking on the Marr show, Sir David said: “If you go and ask people > who are living up there whether it’s happening they don’t have any > doubt. > “There isn’t any question but that the poles are warming. > “The North Pole is warming. The South Pole is a different thing. The > South Pole is a huge ice cap miles thick and to some extent it makes > its own weather but it is quite possible that within the next 20 or 30 > years that North Pole in winter will remain open so you will be able > to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific. > “It means extinction for the polar bears but you might say “What does > it mean for world trade?” and killer whales will be able to travel > [between the two]. > “We should be trying to reduce the rate at which the planet warms. We > aren’t going to be able to stop it, that’s for sure. All we are going > to be able to do is slow it down.” > > > Josh Horton > joshuahorton...@gmail.com > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "geoengineering" group. > To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en.
