The University of Chicago is attempting to position itself as the place for serious scientific consideration of the logistics and implications of Earth system interventions aimed at reversing or counteracting climate change.
Stopping emissions at source and improving energy efficiency should be the top priorities. The laws of thermodynamics and atmospheric physics are strongly unfavorable towards after-the-fact cleanup attempts. Every large-scale engineering project has side-effects, and one of such massive proportions is likely to have proportionately massive side-effects.
Geoengineering has also been used by polluters as an excuse to continue polluting. This isn’t a problem with the proposed solutions, but more with the political use to which those solutions are put.
Stopping emissions at source and improving energy efficiency should be the top priorities. The laws of thermodynamics and atmospheric physics are strongly unfavorable towards after-the-fact cleanup attempts. Every large-scale engineering project has side-effects, and one of such massive proportions is likely to have proportionately massive side-effects.
Geoengineering has also been used by polluters as an excuse to continue polluting. This isn’t a problem with the proposed solutions, but more with the political use to which those solutions are put.
We’re already too late. We need to be doing both.
It’s time for active measures.