Blue Marble Geographics’ Post

I have a few reactions to the latest Cleaning Up Podcast, hosted by Bryony Worthington. I don't think it's a trend, but I did have a few things to say about the last one, hosted by Michael Liebreich, as well. This discussion was with a solar geoengineering advocate. The premise is that we put mostly safe chemicals into the atmosphere to increase the albedo of the earth to reflect more solar irradiation back into space before it hits the ground or water and turns into heat, then radiates back as infrared and gets stopped by greenhouse gases. I've been looking at this for well over a decade and said most of the following things to one of the leading researchers and promoters of the approach a few years ago. First, it's good that we're researching it. If we ever have to slap a huge bandaid on a spurting wound, at least we'll have a bandaid. As the advocate said on the podcast, if we are doing absolutely everything else right, it will be useful to have the ability to reduce baked in heating. This was discussed. So far so good. Second, it's a bandaid on a symptom. It has zero ability to stop the blades from cutting more. Treating symptoms instead of root causes is a serious problem, and if we end up doing it, we've lost. This was underexplored in the discussion. Third, oceanic acidification is invisible to us but potentially much more serious and solar geongineering does nothing for it. The potential for increased ocean acidification wasn't explored. Fourth, as I said bluntly to the solar geoengineer researcher at the time, it's obviously being exploited by the fossil fuel industry just as direct air capture — the researcher's other focus when not publishing terrible studies attacking wind energy — is. The researcher asserted falsely that they had no inkling of that happening, yet later I found an interview prior to our discussion where they were asked about the Trump Administration's promotion of solar geoengineering. There was no discussion of this challenge with the technology. Finally, I'm a strong advocate of the Oxford Principles on Geoengineering. This requires a global governance model for the technology that works to ensure that it's not a rogue action by the billionaire philanthropists who received some kudos due to lack of western governmental action, or at least their fellow oligarchs and wannabe oligarchs. There have been a couple of these already and a rogue startup is attracting funding as well. Not discussed at all. No mention of the Oxford Principles or a global governance structure. It's good to be researching last ditch fire breaks, but treating them as anything except emergency rip cords is problematic. Every discussion of them outside of the most insider academic, high-context discussions should ring fence them with massive disclaimers and flashing lights. Job #1, #2 and #3 is stopping emissions. After that, there are bandaids for the worst of the symptoms. #climateaction #research #communication #symptoms

CropWatch Podcast | Are you prepared for severe weather in 2024? In this episode, @nebraska-extension reviews some of the most important aspects of preparing for weather-related emergencies on the #farm. » https://ow.ly/gb3N50RiuJ2 #NebExt #naturaldisasters #ag #farmsafety #agsafety

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

In this episode of the Global Yaadie Podcast, Communication Consultant Khrystal Walcott highlights the crucial role of effective and timely communication in preparing communities for climate change and natural disasters. From tailoring messages to the importance of tech and community-based organizations, discover how communication builds resilience. Watch 📹 : https://lnkd.in/ezihBAN4 Listen 🎧 : https://lnkd.in/e3jJPVFJ #ClimateCommunication #DisasterPreparedness #GlobalYaadiePodcast

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!