Ethics and Geoengineering
Recent debate about whether to allow experiments to manage
global climate has raised the profile of the ethical permissibility of
geoengineering. I don't think a lot of the ethical debate properly addresses
the critical issues.
The precautionary
principle says that an
Yesthere are activist groups set on preventing research and trying to
stymie progress in understanding geoengineering.
Ethicists, however, do something much differentgenerating discussion
about values, uncovering the complexities about participation and just
distribution of goods,
Hi All
About the problem mentioned by Robert that critics of geo-engineering
say that it will reduce efforts at CO2 reduction. I refer people to
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWparachutes.htm
In World War 1 many Royal Flying Corps pilots were killed because they
were not allowed
Ya know, it's very hard to engage this discussion. It seems pretty
reactionary: any position that is any respect critical of geoengineering is
somehow treated as, at best, not serious and, at worst, a threat to science.
That's a bit surprising since, as Christopher puts it, most ethicists only
Benjamin, was this post related to Ken's? I don't see the connection, but
rather a reactionary and unsubstantiated insinuation that somehow
scientists believe that ethicists are a problem for geoengineering. Ken
tried to clarify what seems to be an ill-defined term regarding playing God.
A few
Nobody says it is hostle. Ethics just has no role in influencing research and
development of b asic principles of geoengineering. As soon as you say 'course
of action' and apply it to geoengineering you have lost the argument. What you
are talking about is implementation and geoengineers will
Every major scientific organization has codes of ethics to which their
practitioners and researchers must abide. Almost all major research
institutions have Institutional Review Boards which are committed to
ensuring that scientific research meets with basic ethical protocols. There
are reams of
