Geoengineering our climate is a reaction to the damages that humans have produced on the environment. I feel that geoengineering our climate is a good thing, but that it is important to recognize that it is only a bandage for the real problem. In order to improve our climate, we need to “…focus first and foremost on curbing fossil fuel emissions…” [italics] (Welch). I feel that geoengineering is a good thing only if it is used in conjunction with preventative efforts. It does not make sense that we continue to pollute, why engineering methods to deal with the pollution, i.e. greenhouse gasses. The real solution is to eliminate greenhouse gasses. Examples of ways that geoengineering has improved our climate are reforestation attempts, such as the successes in Brazil (Gillis). The forest is the best way to purge our atmosphere of greenhouse gasses, and the forest knows what to do. The advice for humans is to stay out of the way: “The forests know how to do this…They’ve been doing it forever, growing back” (Gillis). I conclude that geoengineering is a good support for preventative efforts, but that geoengineering our climate should not be viewed as the solution to climate change.
- Gillis, Justin. “Restored Forests Breathe Life Into Efforts Against Climate Change.” The New York Times, 23 Dec. 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/science/earth/restored-forests-are-making-inroads-against-climate-change-.html. Accessed 03 Mar. 2017.
- Welch, Craig. “There’s a Good and a Bad Way to ‘Geoengineer’ the Planet.” National Geographic, 09 Feb. 2015, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150210-national-academy-geoengineering-report-climate-change-environment/. Accessed 03 Mar. 2017.
