Posted by Jonathan Adler:
Time to Look at Geoengineering?
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_06_14-2009_06_20.shtml#1244991545
Tomorrow the National Academy of Sciences will convene a workshop on
geoengineering as a way to slow or reverse the effects of global
climate change. [1]Samuel Thernstrom thinks serious federal research
on geoengineering is overdue.
A geoengineering system would of course be controversial, but the
policy question we face today is simple: Should the federal
government conduct research on geoengineering? The scientific and
engineering challenges involved in geoengineering the global
climate for decades, and the potential consequences of success or
failure, are extraordinary; all the more reason to begin a research
program commensurate with the scale and significance of the task.
Geoengineering is not a substitute for mitigation, and it raises
potentially serious environmental and ethical issues. It could,
however, protect us from the worst effects of warming for the many
decades it will take for emissions reductions to become effective.
We may ultimately decide that geoengineering's risks are too great
-- but undertaking a research program now would give future
policymakers the opportunity to make decisions about geoengineering
from a position of knowledge rather than ignorance and desperation.
I am not sure whether geoengineering is a good idea -- or even whether
it would be legal under existing international law without a new
global treaty -- but I believe it is worth serious study. Humanity is
altering planetary systems on a global scale whether we like it or
not. Shouldn't we at least consider whether and how we can influence
the climate in a positive -- or at least less harmful -- way? Even
dramatic emission reductions won't eliminate humanity's effect on the
climate system, so we should have all of our options on the table.
References
1.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061203453.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
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