Actually, this could be a two-for for rogue states. If a rogue state can figure out how to trigger massive volcanic eruptions, such as the Wyoming Yellowstone Caldera's impending-some-time-in-the-next-umpteeump-thousands-of-years explosion, then they can have a major hit against a hated "enemy" while reducing the degree of global warming.
David On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 4:28 PM, Jonathan <[email protected]>wrote: > This is the kind of thing I wish I'd thought of... > > > > Sent to you by Jonathan via Google Reader: > > > Giant Explosions Are The Cheapest Way To Halt Climate Change, Say > Scientists [Strange > Scenarios]<http://io9.com/5459922/giant-explosions-are-the-cheapest-way-to-halt-climate-change-say-scientists> > via io9 <http://io9.com> by Annalee Newitz on 1/29/10 > > A recent report from a group of environmental scientists, published in > Nature, argues that cutting greenhouse emissions is much more expensive than > another option we have to halt global warming: Setting of a mega-volcano > that would coat atmosphere in nice, sun-blocking ash. According to an > article on the report in the > *Telegraph*<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7090608/Simulated-volcanic-eruptions-to-block-sun.html>: > > > They called for governments to establish a multimillion-pound fund for > research into the simulated volcanoes and other solar-radiation management > techniques for shielding the Earth against sunlight. > > "The idea of deliberately manipulating Earth's energy balance to offset > human-driven climate change strikes many as dangerous hubris," they wrote. > > "Many scientists have argued against research on solar radiation > management, saying that developing the capability to perform such tasks will > reduce the political will to lower greenhouse gas emissions. We think that > the risks of not doing research outweigh the risks of doing it." > > They said the cost of solar radiation management was 100 times lower than > the price tag for cutting emissions to achieve the same effect, raising the > risk that small groups of nations or even rogue states could act alone. > > They wrote: "It is plausible that, after exhausting other avenues to limit > climate risks, such a nation might decide to begin a gradual, well-monitored > programme of deployment, even without any international agreement on its > regulation. > > "In this case, one nation – which need not be a large and rich > industrialised country – could seize the initiative on global climate, > making it extremely difficult for other powers to restrain it." > > So let me get this straight. "Rogue states" are going to get fed up with > carbon taxes and instead create simulated volcanoes in order to save the > environment? That's a . . . strange scenario. I like it though. > > <http://feeds.gawker.com/%7Eff/io9/full?a=7cGcakZwGGc:OQhtPBEyuv8:yIl2AUoC8zA> > <http://feeds.gawker.com/%7Eff/io9/full?a=7cGcakZwGGc:OQhtPBEyuv8:D7DqB2pKExk> > <http://feeds.gawker.com/%7Eff/io9/full?a=7cGcakZwGGc:OQhtPBEyuv8:V_sGLiPBpWU> > > > > Things you can do from here: > > - Subscribe to > io9<http://www.google.com/reader/view/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fio9.com%2Findex.xml?source=email>using > *Google Reader* > - Get started using Google > Reader<http://www.google.com/reader/?source=email>to easily keep up with > *all your favorite sites* > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<r-spec%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en.
