The broader point is to avoid sweeping statements about the views of "Everybody working in geo-engineering...." The people "working in geo-engineering" have a wide range of views on various aspects of the subject and they have not authorized anyone to be their spokesperson. While Stephen's comment was no doubt made in good faith, to my knowledge there are people who disagree with the first prong of Stephen's statement, others who disagree with the second prong; and, who knows, maybe some who disagree with both! :>)
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jamais Cascio Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 12:17 PM To: [email protected] Cc: Alan Robock; geoengineering Subject: Re: [geo] Re: your BBC quote If I may, I think the difference is subtle but critical. The implication of the statement "...we fear it will be [needed]" is that we may be forced into a situation where we use geoengineering, but it's the correct remaining response. What Alan's arguing might be summed up as a fear that we will use geoengineering before really understanding the consequences, a fear that we will come to believe geoengineering to be "needed" without being able to consider the full range of negative repercussions -- which could, in some scenarios, be worse than the warming. -Jamais Cascio On Mar 23, 2012, at 9:09 AM, Stephen Salter wrote: > Dear Alan > > The difference between my Commons statement and your position is too subtle for me. Do you mean that you are not alarmed about the possibility of the need for geoengineering becoming apparent? > > I could not possibly ask everybody because I do not have a complete list. However in future I could if you wish say ' nearly everybody except people like Alan Robock . . .' Perhaps in return you could in future distinguish the tropospheric salt and stratospheric sulphur SRM techniques from one another. > > By the way I do value your opposition. If we ever have to do geoengineering the process will be safer because of you. All I want is to have reliable equipment ready if it is needed in a hurry and all its effects well understood. I am a bit surprised that you are not making more of a fuss about figure 2b of your own paper in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and its effect on methane release. Where do your stand on PIOMAS Arctic volume predictions? > > Stephen > > > > > On 22/03/2012 21:14, Alan Robock wrote: >> Dear Steve, >> >> In the article about your parliamentary hearing, it says: >> >> "Everybody working in geo-engineering hopes it won't be needed - but we fear it will be," said Prof Salter. >> >> This is incorrect, and I would like to request that you issue a statement to that effect. You are not speaking for me. And you need to ask everyone else working in this field, before you claim to speak for them. I personally fear that geoengineering will be used before all the potential effects are studied. This is quite different from fearing that it will be needed, because that implies that we know that it will be the only response society can take. Thanks. >> > > -- > 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. > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jamais Cascio [email protected] Open the Future - with enough minds, all tomorrows are visible http://www.openthefuture.com "It is the business of the future to be dangerous." -Alfred North Whitehead -- 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. -- 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.
