How to Cool the Planet: Geoengineering and the Audacious Quest to Fix Earth's Climate - Paperback

by Jeff Goodell (Author)

Climate discussions often focus on potential impacts over a long period of time--several decades, a century even. But change could also happen much more suddenly. What if we had a real climate emergency--how could we cool the planet in a hurry? This question has led a group of scientists to pursue extreme solutions: huge contraptions that would suck CO2 from the air, machines that brighten clouds and deflect sunlight away from the earth, even artificial volcanoes that spray heat-reflecting particles into the atmosphere. This is the radical and controversial world of geoengineering. How to Cool the Planet, Jeff Goodell explores the scientific, political, and moral aspects of geoengineering. How are we going to change the temperature of whole regions if we can't even predict next week's weather? What about wars waged with climate control as the primary weapon? There are certainly risks, but Goodell persuades us that geoengineering may be our last best hope, a Plan B for the environment. And if it is, we need to know enough to get it right.

Back Jacket

Goodell explores with infectious curiosity and thoughtful narration this strange, promising, and untested suite of climate fixes. BusinessWeek

Conversation around climate change tends to focus on the effects over decades or even centuries. But change could happen much more suddenly. What if we had a real climate emergency? How could we cool the planet in a hurry? Cutting greenhouse gas emissions alone may not be enough to reduce the risk of climate catastrophe. This has led some scientists to pursue extreme solutions: huge contraptions that would suck CO2 from the air, machines that would brighten clouds and deflect sunlight away from the earth, even artificial volcanoes that would spray heat-reflecting particles into the atmosphere. Jeff Goodell explores the scientific, political, financial, and moral aspects of geoengineering. How are we going to change the temperature of entire regions if we can t even predict next week s weather? What will happen to our relationship with nature when we find ourselves living in a giant terrarium? There are certainly risks, but our options are dwindling, and Goodell believes the alternatives could be worse. This may be Plan B for the planet. And if it is, we need to know enough to get it right. "A quick, enjoyable read through a complex, timely topic. And after you read it, you ll never look at the sky or the ocean or Earth, really in quite the same way again." Christian Science Monitor Jeff Goodell is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone and a frequent contributor to the New York Times Magazine. He is the author of several books, including Big Coal and Our Story: 77 Hours That Tested Our Friendship and Our Faith."