3 ms·

Think of climate change like a car driving off a cliff. The car is “safely” on solid ground until it isn’t. The problem is that at some point to avoid the emerg

Think of climate change like a car driving off a cliff. The car is “safely” on solid ground until it isn’t. The problem is that at some point to avoid the emergency you need to hit the brakes or turn, and this particular car might not be able to turn or brake very hard without catastrophic effects on the occupants. Moving away from this metaphor, there is a possibility we cross a tipping point in the climate system (and may already have done so) that can be “reversed” through emergency geoengineering: but it’s not clear that the necessary level of intervention would be compatible with global agriculture and civilization.

adamisom 3y ago
those who believe we will hit a discontinuous tipping point are precisely those who should be advocating for geoengineering now, despite its unknowns and downsides… yet the voices to do so are curiously absent
- matthewdgreen 3y ago
  I don't know if they should be advocating for geoengineering now, but we should definitely start getting used to the idea that we might need it very soon. That means a huge acceleration of research to test the techniques we have, and make sure they don't have unintended consequences (like accidentally destroying the ozone layer.) > yet the voices to do so are curiously absent It's easy to think this if you're not paying attention: the issue is very controversial and many people oppose it But a number of scientists signed onto a letter calling for additional research into this [1], and Congress and the White House OSTP are also pushing to speed up and increase research funding [2]. Of course, this kind of research could go away in a single election. [1] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27022023/solar-radiation-management-global-warming/ https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27022023/solar-radiation-... [2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/06/30/congressionally-mandated-report-on-solar-radiation-modification/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/06/30/cong...
  - aCoreyJ 3y ago
    The biggest thing about this sulfur realization is that it's a massive experiment we have been accidentally running on its effectiveness and the side effects caused by it... And now without it. Makes it a lot easier to validate your solution and be more sure of side effects

adamisom 3y ago

those who believe we will hit a discontinuous tipping point are precisely those who should be advocating for geoengineering now, despite its unknowns and downsides… yet the voices to do so are curiously absent

matthewdgreen 3y ago
I don't know if they should be advocating for geoengineering now, but we should definitely start getting used to the idea that we might need it very soon. That means a huge acceleration of research to test the techniques we have, and make sure they don't have unintended consequences (like accidentally destroying the ozone layer.) > yet the voices to do so are curiously absent It's easy to think this if you're not paying attention: the issue is very controversial and many people oppose it But a number of scientists signed onto a letter calling for additional research into this [1], and Congress and the White House OSTP are also pushing to speed up and increase research funding [2]. Of course, this kind of research could go away in a single election. [1] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27022023/solar-radiation-management-global-warming/ https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27022023/solar-radiation-... [2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/06/30/congressionally-mandated-report-on-solar-radiation-modification/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/06/30/cong...
- aCoreyJ 3y ago
  The biggest thing about this sulfur realization is that it's a massive experiment we have been accidentally running on its effectiveness and the side effects caused by it... And now without it. Makes it a lot easier to validate your solution and be more sure of side effects