Extreme and risky action the only way to tackle global warming, say scientists in the Guardian’s article tonight. In it, they argue that because nowt is happening anywhere in the world to stop the warming trend, individual scientists and organisations should take action themselves, like blotting out the sun or seeding the ocean to make algal blooms.
This is even more nuts.
If someone has a flamethrower blasting your fiels of crops you don’t spray water on them. No. You get the person doing the flamethrowing to stop – and then you spray water on.
While individaul actions are good, cack-handed global engineering is not.
And of course, as I’ve just said here, in light of the current crises, political & energy, it’s even less likely something will be done.
Martin Rees, my namesake and Astronomer Royal, says even though there are risks, we should still investigate the ideas. However, I’m more in tune with Mike Childs of Friends of the Earth, who said:
“We can’t afford to wait for magical geo-engineering solutions to get us out of the hole we have dug ourselves into. The solutions that exist now, such as a large-scale energy efficiency programme and investment in wind, wave and solar power, can do the job if we deploy them at the scale and urgency that is needed.”
This is what my flamethrower analogy is referring; the sensible use of renewables to replace fossil fuels.
- We in the UK are fortunate to be a windy island sat in a stormy sea – for kinetic energy extraction.
- We have lots of empty flat warehouse roofs and millions of dwellings – for mandatory PV generation.
- We already have a National Grid – extend it
- We have hundreds of valleys in wet mountainous areas – flood them for hydro and pumped energy storage.
- We have large areas of funnel shaped estuaries and bays – kinetic energy extraction
- We have the second largest tide range in the World – use it!
- Compressed air engines using electricity for air compression – a sensible, safe and cheap transport solution.
Notice: No Biofuels in my plan! It’s purely physical and solar energy.
Related posts:
- Well, bang goes the gas!
- Thank god I’ve got a fixed price for my gas this year! :-? UK warns over ‘Russia aggression’ It’s hardly...
