[Peakoil] This is the end? Lovelock comments.

[POLLARD,Sandy]

Lovelock's comment:
 
"Almost all of the systems that have been looked at are in positive
feedback ... and soon those effects will be larger than any of the
effects of carbon dioxide emissions from industry and so on around the
world."
 
...has interesting implications. If true (and he's not alone here), it
implies that not only is immediate 'zero-minus' action necessary (to
reduce the effect of CO2 already in the atmosphere) - it will also be
necessary to try to break those feedback loops with massive planetary
scale interventions. 
 
The feedback loops eventually push tipping points eg:
 
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2006/11/13th_tipping_point.html

(Excellent article: biology, climate science, sociology)
 
I've read of all sorts of giant schemes (umbrellas in space, a circle of
wind turbines around the arctic etc.) 
 
Setting aside the difficulties in being sure of not triggering
unintended consequences, what kind of entity on this planet would have
the resources and power to pull these interventions off (assuming they
could get resources, scientific consensus and anything approaching
public approval)?
 
Remembering that by the time this becomes clear, we are likely to be in
free-fall energy descent.
 
Optimist answer: 'All of us' is the only entity that could do this.
 
Pessimist answer: 'We're toast'.
 
Happy to hear of a third answer. And I agree with Adrian - a way forward
that justifies the word 'hope' still has to be important.      
 
Sandy Pollard


________________________________

From: peakoil-bounces+sandy.pollard=dewr.gov.au at act-peakoil.org
[mailto:peakoil-bounces+sandy.pollard=dewr.gov.au at act-peakoil.org] On
Behalf Of Adrian Whitehead
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:30 AM
To: Peakoil Discussion
Subject: [Peakoil] This is the end? Lovelock comments.



Lovelock's comments (see article below), though possibly correct are
clearly couched in terms of a pessimism that sees little chance of our
society making the big changes needed to give us any change of dealing
with the threat of climate change. 

One reason for a lack of effective responce to date is Lovelock types
are saying were are doomed, while Gore and others are telling us to
change a light globe, creating confusion in the public mind as to the
severity of what we are actually facing.

Once people actually realise the situation we face in its full depth the
outcry will be enormous and the resulting response huge as the energy
people have directed in getting us to this point of crisis today will be
redirected into solving the problem, hopefully before its too late. 

If anything Lovelock's comments emphasize the importance of the work
being done by Beyond Zero Emission and other groups working on the zero
emission minus goal, for it is only through the attainment of this goal
that will we give the future a chance. Likewise it is the only goal that
correctly frames the problem in a way that solutions become obvious. 

We must continue to push the zero emission minus goal, educate the
public about the seriousness of the problem and give them a way forward
that justifies the word "hope".

Adrian


[snip]

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