David Victor Quoted in Scientific American
Engineering the Planet to Dodge Global Warming
11/13/2009
Douglas Fischer,
Scientific American
Failure to make difficult choices to cut greenhouse gas emissions exposes humanity to an increasingly dire set of climate scenarios. But there is a way to buy time: Geoengineering.
The idea of tinkering with planetary controls is not for the faint of heart. Even advocates acknowledge that any attempt to set the Earth's thermostat is full of hubris and laden with risk.
Some ideas are the stuff of science fiction: 15 trillion mirrors positioned in orbit to shield the planet from the sun's rays; … a navy of robot-controlled ships prowling the world's oceans, spraying seawater skyward to generate reflective clouds.
Others are more mundane: Plant trees to soak up carbon dioxide or paint roofs white to reflect sunlight. Most are unproven. All have major drawbacks. None offset ocean acidification.
Read the full article and see David Victor's comments here.
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.
