Posted on 01/31/2008 9:41:19 AM PST by forkinsocket
It may sound like science fiction, but it’s only a matter of time before the world’s militaries learn to wield the planet itself as a weapon.
Preventing global warming from becoming a planetary catastrophe may take something even more drastic than renewable energy, superefficient urban design, and global carbon taxes. Such innovations remain critical, and yet disruptions to the Earth’s climate could overwhelm these relatively slow, incremental changes in how we live. As reports of faster-than-expected climate changes mount, a growing number of experts worry that we might ultimately be forced to try something quite radical: geoengineering.
Geoengineering involves humans making intentional, large-scale modifications to the Earth’s geophysical systems in order to change the environment. These can include sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide in the oceans, changing the reflectivity of the Earth’s surface, and pumping particles into the stratosphere to block a fraction of incoming sunlight. Many of these proposals mimic natural events, so we know that—in principle—they can work, although there is insufficient understanding of their potential side effects. Unsurprisingly, geoengineering is highly controversial, and even proponents view it as a “Hail Mary” pass, to be considered only after all other options have failed.
But geoengineering presents more than just an environmental question. It also presents a geopolitical dilemma. With processes of this magnitude and degree of uncertainty, countries would inevitably argue over control, costs, and liability for mistakes. More troubling, however, is the possibility that states may decide to use geoengineering efforts and technologies as weapons. Two factors make this a danger we dismiss at our peril: the unequal impact of climate changes, and the ability of small states and even nonstate actors to attempt geoengineering.
(Excerpt) Read more at foreignpolicy.com ...
Xenu is coming back for us?
“Preventing global warming from becoming a planetary catastrophe may take something even more drastic than renewable energy, superefficient urban design, and global carbon taxes.”
I stop reading after sentences like this where GW is a foregone conclusion amidst growing evidence against the hoax being thrust upon us.
We must ignore all climate change articles at all times, that’s the conservative way right? Those stinking hippies can love mother earth and all that nonsense. Human beings can’t possibly do or create anything that would effect the climate! Come on, that’s crazy talk!
/sarcasm off
Give me some numbers, please. How much has it changed? This article is from another planet, maybe?
Your last sentence nailed it.
No, but we should approach them extremely skeptically, since the leading proponents of man-made global warming theories have shown themselves willing to distort the facts however they need to to achieve their ends.
The name of the magazine tells us all we want to know. Science? They don’t need no stinkin’ science. (Al Gore doesn’t understand science, so why should they?)
Somebody really should sue popular mechanics I mean they promised all those things back then where’s my anti-grav car, ray gun, and robot wife?
This is good! It’s like me tinkering with my computer server when I really don’t have a good idea how the thing works. Sooner or later I’m going to crash it. It’s only a matter of time. Thing is, you can’t “back-up” the Earth.
I completely agree. Peer review, double blind, all of the application of the Scientific Method etc. It is the only way for people/ society to know the truth.
I have breakfast many mornings with a bunch of other middle-aged guys and we were talking about how the internal combustion engine has not essentially changed in our lifetimes. All of us remembered how we were promised atomic powered cars that would fly.
Well neither has my coffee changed essentially in my lifetime.
All we have to do is put an additive in jet fuel and we can turn this planet into an ice ball in less than 100 years.
We can’t produce the energy to warm it.
Could you get back to me when the Temperature raises to about 80 degress.
Its 20 degrees snowing and my plow just quit on me.
“Preventing global warming from becoming a planetary catastrophe may take something even more drastic than renewable energy”
I stopped reading there. A lie told a million times by people with no qualifications to even begin to understand planetary science but think of themselves as political geniuses is still a lie.
“willing to distort the facts however they need to to achieve their ends.”
Yep. Luddites, nothing more.
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