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CLIMATE
CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT
Artificial engineering can save the Earth from global
warming
London: Over fears that the world
is not doing enough to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,
scientists are seriously thinking about the idea that
humans may have to alter the global climate artificially
with mega-engineering projects, to save the world
from a potential catastrophe. According to a report
in The Independent, the Royal Society, UK, will launch
a study later this year aimed at reviewing the possibility
of saving the planet by "geoengineering"
the climate on the grandest scales imaginable. Geoengineering
encompasses schemes such as fertilizing the oceans
with iron filings to draw down CO2 from the atmosphere,
creating more
reflective clouds, or even pumping vast quantities
of sulphate particles into
the air to simulate volcanic eruptions that cut out
sunlight and lower global temperatures. A growing
disillusionment with the ability of governments to
reduce CO2 emissions has forced scientists to come
up with a possible last-ditch
technological fix to avert global catastrophe. "Global
emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise, so
there is inevitably interest in technologies that
may be able to provide a 'fix'," said Lord Rees
of Ludlow, the president of the Royal Society.
It's not clear which of these geoengineering technologies
might work, still less what environmental and social
impacts they might have, or whether it could ever
be prudent or politically acceptable to adopt any
of them. "None of these technologies will provide
a 'get out of jail free card' and they must not divert
attention away from international efforts to reduce
emissions of greenhouse gases," said Lord Rees.
According to Professor Ken Caldeira of Stanford University,
it was important to plan now for the possibility of
having to use geoengineering. "Every year, CO2
emissions continue to climb. Reducing CO2 emissions
requires individual sacrifice in the here and now
for the public good of the distant future," he
said. "If we start soon, we can phase in climate
engineering slowly and cautiously, and back off if
something bad happens. The least risky thing to do
is to start testing soon," he added.
-Sept
1, 2008
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