Geo-engineering: Global Salvation or Ruin?

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from Geo-Engineering: Global Salvation or Ruin? held on February 23, 2010

Duration

1:10:23

Geo-engineering: Global Salvation or Ruin?

Ken Caldeira, Professor, Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution
Albert Lin, Professor, UC Davis School of Law
David Whelan, Chief Scientist, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems

Should humans address man-made rising temperatures and sea levels by tinkering further with Mother Nature? A lively debate about such geo-engineering burst into the mainstream recently with reference to Caldeira’s work in the final chapter of the popular book SuperFreakonomics. Now this panel takes a measured look at the good, bad and ugly of what could and should be done. What is technically feasible? How could such tactics be tested? What are the risks? How would such a program be governed? Does the mere mention of geo-engineering take the steam out of efforts to reduce carbon pollution and create a moral hazard?

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on February 23, 2010.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs

The leading national forum open to all for the impartial discussion of public issues important to the membership, community and nation. The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. Each year, we bring hundreds of events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy to our members and the public, both in-person and via extensive online and on-air listenership and viewership.

The views of Club speakers are their own and their participation does not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

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