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GEOENGINEERING_2017

                                             July 31, 2022

The July 21, 2017 issue of "Science" from the AAAS
has several pieces on the "science and governance of
climate engineering".

You know, I can remember way back when the
very idea of doing "climate engineering"       John McCarthy writing on
was regarded as a thought crime.               sci.environment was one
                                               of the first willing to
Now there's more of a resigned                 go there.
acceptance that we're just not going
to avert catastrophe without it.

                                 "We are as gods, and
                                 have no choice but to
                                 get good at it."


The editorial for this issue provides a quick
overview of the subject, and makes the point that
with few exceptions:

   "... there is no comprehensive                     Going towards the
    international framework governering               "Ministry of the
    these emerging technologies."                     Future"...


The overview-- and the jargon it introduces--
is very useful:


    "There are two main types of geoengineering:
    carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere
    and solar radiation management (SRM) to cool the
    planet.  Geoengineering does not obviate the need
    for radical reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG)
    emissions to zero, combined with adaptation to
    inevitable climate impacts.  However, some
    scientists say that geoengineering could delay or
    reduce the overshoot.  In so doing, we may expose
    the world to other serious risks, known and
    unknown."


Further:

   "Applying SRM without reducing GHG emissions
   and concentrations would condemn future
   generations to continuing SRM for centuries."      They mention some
                                                      other risks that
   "Ocean acidification would continue."              look a little
                                                      vauge-- more like a
                                                      catalog of possible
                                                      changes than headline
                                                      grabbing threats.


Along the way, they comment:

    "The greatest near-term risk, however, may
    be the unilateral deployment of SMR by one
    country, a small group of countries, or a        The Man who
    wealthy individual."                             Froze the World.



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