David Victor Discusses Extreme Approaches to Climate Change in Feature Story in Technology Review
The Geoengineering Gambit
01/05/2010
Kevin Bullis,
Technology Review
Several existing geoengineering schemes could be attempted relatively cheaply and easily. And even if no one knows whether they would be safe or effective, that doesn't mean they won't be tried.
David Victor, the director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation at the University of California, San Diego, sees two scenarios in which it might happen. First, "the desperate Hail Mary pass": "A country quite vulnerable to changing climate is desperate to alter outcomes and sees that efforts to cut emissions are not bearing fruit. Crude geoengineering schemes could be very inexpensive, and thus this option might even be available to a Trinidad or Bangladesh--the former rich in gas exports and quite vulnerable, and the latter poor but large enough that it might do something seen as essential for survival." And second, "the Soviet-style arrogant engineering scenario"...
Click here to read the full article. David Victor's comments begin on page 4.
Related Links
David Victor is director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation, based at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.
Click here to visit David Victor's website.
