Mitigation: Geo-Engineering
"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."—Albert Einstein
"The drive toward complex technical achievement offers a clue to why the U.S. is good at space gadgetry and bad at slum problems." —John Kenneth Galbraith
"We've arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces." —Carl Sagan
Lenton & Vaughan, 2009: A very, very useful paper that evaluates the efficacy of a huge range of geo-engineering proposals: Will they work? Assuming no economic, social, political, etc., obstacles, how much radiative forcing could they deflect/offset/accommodate/etc.? Long, and technical in places, but very clearly written and organized. Recommended.
Short NYTimes article about a 2007 Geo-Engineering conference. A quote from one of the conference organizers "In 200 years the earth will be 'an artifact'—a product of human design." [Much of Earth already is an artifact, and aren't we doing a swell job of it so far?]
Superfreakonomics misses boat on Geo-Engineering: RealClimate's analysis of shortcomings in the Geo-Engineering chapter of Levitt & Dunbar's Superfreakonomics book (Oct 2009).
Space-based solar power? Post and discussion at The Oil Drum, April 2009.
Sunshades in space: At least University of Arizona professor Roger Angel only envisions these fleets of two-feet-across disc-like sunshades as a last resort if other methods fail us. But....20 electromagnetic launchers launching a stack of flyers every 5 minutes for 10 years? Someone is going to be able to pay for this?!
Artificial trees to absorb atmospheric CO2: An interview with Klaus Lackner (July 2009).
Too much methane from livestock? Try genetic re-design of cows (Nature, 2009).
Carbon Sequestration to Mitigate Climate Change: USGS fact sheet 3097, Dec 2008.
Carbon capture and storage: Post and discussion at The Oil Drum, March 2009.
WV coal plant begins carbon capture and storage: NY Times, Sept 2009.
Limitations of Science and Adapting to Nature: Thoughtful ruminations (by emeritus science professor) about technological advances, adapting to nature, and the survival instinct.