I reposted this announcement from “The Proud Holobionts” because it is such a vital matter, and I think it can be interesting also for the readers of “The Seneca Effect”
On February 28th, we discuss “natural geoengineering,” the capability of the Ecosystem to contrast and, in part, remedy the damage done to it by humans. It is a webinar organized by WAAS (World Academy for Arts and Science) in collaboration with the Club of Rome. We discuss the role of forests and oceans, and we compare it with some more possible actions. We also discuss the human side of the problem, especially for the less privileged populations living in the regions that risk being the most negatively affected by global warming. Register here for the seminar.
I don’t know about you, but I am scared. The latest data about global warming are like a bulletin of a war being lost. That’s scary. And even more scary is the reaction of that nebulous entity we call “humankind.” No reaction at all except indifference, denial, and silent desperation. And in addition, engaging in wars and exterminations. Humankind is truly showing its worst.
Like many others, I have been thinking about geoengineering, if not as a “solution,” at least as a way to slow down warming before it starts being even more deadly than it is already. And I can tell you that I am scared about that, too. There are many proposals and ideas on how to cool the planet by geoengineering, but it is a dangerous path. Touching such a complex thing as the Ecosystem always has consequences, and the effects of some proposed solutions could be worse than the problem.
So, I have been working on the concept of “Natural Geoengineering,” which simply means to let the ecosystem do the job it has been doing for hundreds of millions of years before humans started tampering with it. That is, keeping stable Earth’s climate and all the other parameters that make life possible. It is the concept called “biotic regulation” or, in a different but related version, the Gaia Principle. The ecosystem is not just a carbon stock; it is, in a certain sense, “alive” and it can actively contrast external perturbations. Can the Ecosystem be restored in such a way as to contrast global warming and all the negative effects of human action?
It is possible. I have been working with some great experts in ecosystem science, learned many things, and understood a little of the incredible complexity of the Earth System. There are things we can do or, better, stop doing in order to restore the ecosystem and, within some limits, cool the planet and remedy some of the worst damage done during the industrial age and before. Restoring Earth’s forests and marine biomes is the most promising way to do that. Forests are no mere stock of carbon, they actively cool the earth through biophysical effects related to the evapotranspiration of water vapor. And the ocean can re-absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide if we can restore its biological activity (we need more whales!)
We will discuss this subject in an upcoming seminar organized by WAAS in collaboration with the Club of Rome. It is a first attempt to put together some of the experts in the field and try to understand what we can do.
Speakers include: Ugo Bardi, University of Florence, member of The Club of Rome, Fellow WAAS, Anastassia Makarieva, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies, Technical University of Munich, Edward W. (Ted) Manning, President, Tourisk Inc., member of The Club of Rome, Anitra Thorhaug, Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture, Yale University; President, Greater Caribbean Energy and Environment Foundation, member of The Club of Rome, Co-President, US Association of the Club of Rome; Ian Dunlop, Senior Member of the Advisory Board, The Breakthrough – National Centre for Climate Restoration; Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, member of The Club of Rome; Chaden Diyab, Founder, IES EMEA (Industrial Environment & Sustainability) and Green Education Program in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Moderated by Nebojša Nešković, Vice President WAAS, President, Serbian Chapter of The Club of Rome.
Salve, capisco lo spavento, ma non si dovrebbe perdere lucidità. Siamo di fronte a crisi che sono state preannunciate da tempo. Le Cassande ci sono state, fin da metà ottocento; mettevano in guardia dall'eccessivo disboscamento nei nostri appennini, a causa di una sovrapopoloazione incontrollata, e da una avidità, per un benessere bramato in pianura.
Capisco che la tecnologia affascina, ma in se stessa non più risolvere la radice del problema: l'avidità.
Se si vuole agire in senso positivo, se una persona assume in sè il principio politico di esempio, allora diviene esempio. La sua vita è un esempio. Cercare una conoscenza che sia in grado di annullare gli effetti di una avidità planetaria, sono modi di "svicolare". Se vuoi affrontare il problema, allora centra l'obiettivo. Quindi: secondo te qual'è il motivo per cui l'uomo si comporta così? E secondo logica, quale sarebbe l'unico modo di agire che avrebbe la potenzialità di invertire questa tendenza?
Le risposte sono scomode, al punto da essere ostracizzati dalla comunità di supporto? Si, è così!