Geo-engineering does not offer an easy way out

No effective, affordable, low risk solutions available

If we are able to influence the earth’s CO2 density and climate in a negative way, it seems logical to assume that we are also able to influence it in a positive way. That is the basic idea behind geo-engineering solutions to climate change. Those solutions generally include such ideas as afforestation, CO2 air capture, ocean fertilisation, cloud albedo (using sea water spray to whiten clouds and increase cloud reflectivity), surface albedo (using specifically coloured roofing and paving materials), creating stratospheric sulphur aerosols, and space solar reflectors.

Is CCS geo-engineering?

A recent article on the subject in the Financial Times also includes CO2 capture at the stack ('Carbon Capture and Storage', CCS) among other geo-engineering solutions. This is noteworthy primarily since this solution is generally seen as more realistic. CCS already receives significant amounts of R&D funding, in contrast with the other geo-engineering solutions.

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Beyond-the-pipe solutions (2)

Earth-scale engineering to save the planet

While European governments are concentrating on energy savings (solution by avoiding, source of the pipe) and carbon free fuels (solution by replacing, the pipe) a group of scientists in the U.S. has been brainstorming on earth-scale engineering projects in response to actual climate change (escape-solution, end-of-pipe and beyond-the-pipe).

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Beyond the pipe solutions

Is there an escape-solution if our efforts to curb GHG-emissions goes wrong? At least there are attempts to design such, but even if they come from Nobel-prize winners, are they anyting else than well-meaning bed-time stories? The idea from Professor Paul Crutzen is a distinct beyond the pipe solution of the sort that was once used as a remedy for acidification and resulted in that calcium was bombed on acid areas and lakes from airplanes!

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