This is an interesting article that talks about the possibilities of using geoengineering to help stop global warming. Geoengineering is the deliberate modification of the environment to suit human needs. The author, Bjorn Lomborg, explores different options of geoengineering including SAI (stratospheric aerosol injection) and marine cloud-whitening. This article came from the November 22, 2010 issue of TIME Europe. This article could have a little bit of biased towards geoengineering. This man is obviously for geoengineering. In fact, he was a part of a study in the U.S. Government Accountability Office that issued a report about geoengineering. This article is pro environmental, to a point. The author wants to stop global warming with any possible solution. This article refers to I. Earth Systems and Resources, B. The Atmosphere. It also refers to V. Energy Resources and Consumption, B. and C. It is also touches on VI. Pollution.
The idea of geoengineering scares me - it seems wrong that we modify the environment just to suit our own human needs, when there are so many more organisms out there that depend on a stable environment as well. Geoengineering should definitely be approached with caution. On the other hand, though, I think it is so interesting and cool that some scientists have discovered temporary ways to keep the earth from overheating. The 'marine cloud whitening' solution sounds really complex, but if it works, then that would be such a cool discovery. Although we have discovered temporary ways to save our world, though, we need to continuously search for ways to end the use of fossil fuels, because otherwise it will not last for long.
ReplyDeleteGeo-engineering may seem like an unnatural method to fight environmental degradation, but may become a necessary one if humans do not make the effort to end it via cutting back on fossil fuel use, saving energy, etc. While these other methods should certainly be at the forefront of the effort to combat global damage, We should not entirely ignore these other methods unless they cause harm to other organisms. I believe all methods need to be practiced to be improved, rather than merely searching for alternative fuel sources.
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