Interview: James Lovelock on Climate Change
- 2 Feb 2007We could also mimic the great volcanoes. When Pinatubo went off in the 1990s, it set back global warming for five years just because of the aerosol: the tiny particles of sulphuric acid in the stratosphere reflected sunlight back to space. Back in the 1970s, Russian scientist Podiko suggested we do that to alleviate global warming but it wasn’t taken up. It’s beginning to be considered now as a serious proposition and would be quite easy to do. For example, if commercial airlines could burn sulphur-rich fuel (unrefined kerosene) as they fly, instead of the highly-refined stuff, it would put enough sulphur in the atmosphere to give you a Pinatubo every couple of years.
FS: Is there any hope for the human race?
JL: We have to adapt, and what we have to do most is to try and preserve civilisation. It’s our most precious asset and we’re a huge benefit to the world. We tend to think of ourselves as some sort of plague, or destructive agency. Although we are, at the same time we are something wonderful. After all those three and a half billion years of evolution, the earth at last has something with intelligence and communication. We are natural and we shouldn’t think of ourselves as separate from the Earth. Through our eyes, the Earth has seen for the very first time, from space, what an incredibly beautiful planet she is. And that’s worthwhile, well worth it.
For more information:
Watch an excerpt of this interview with James Lovelock:
Download and watch the full interview with James Lovelock on FirstScience:
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/gaia-an-interview-with-james-lovelock_37.html
The Independent - James Lovelock: The Earth is about to catch a morbid fever that may last as long as 100,000 years
http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/article338830.ece
BBC - Humans blamed for climate change
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6321351.stm
James Lovelock's Homepage
http://www.ecolo.org/lovelock/lovebioen.htm
Posted by: Toni - 2008-10-11 - 13:08 GMT
Dear James Lovelock,
I don’t think any one person has done more to start the current debate on Global Warming - so thank you. It is now fairly universally agreed that that we must reduce emissions and serious efforts are starting. Inevitably this will take time that we haven’t got!
In the meantime I believe we must control the temperature rise if at all possible. My suggestion goes as follows:
-- for the past 250 years there have been good global temperature records.
-- during this time there have been 13 major volcanic eruptions.
-- in the subsequent two years there has always been a reduction in global temperatures.
-- this reduction is sufficient to completely counteract global warming.
-- the cooling results from volcanic products in the stratosphere (above 30,000 ft.)
-- these microscopic products persist for one to two years in the stratosphere.
-- there are hundreds of commercial aircraft cruising around the world in the lower stratosphere.
-- it is perfectly feasible to put an additive in aircraft fuel to simulate the products of a volcanic eruption.
I have been proposing and researching this idea for the past year including detailed proposals on the chemicals to be added to the fuel. See www.naturaljointmobility.info/globalwarming.htm
I hope you agree that it deserves to be brought into the debate that is positively raging at the moment.
I will be happy to propose and defend this idea anywhere, anytime.
I hope to hear from you.
John Gorman.
Posted by: johngorman - 2007-02-12 - 10:26 GMT
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