[Pil-pc-oceania] Geo-engineering vs. permaculture

[Robyn Williamson]

The website Truth & Progress dotcom has published a very interesting  
article by A Siegel about the benefits of geo-engineering in terms of  
reversing global warming and concludes that "permaculture can be used  
for good effect almost anywhere, at low cost with a high benefit.   
What are we waiting for?"

It's a question I've been pondering for over a decade and many of you  
much longer.

I did like the suggestion in Siegel's article about painting roofs  
white for a net benefit of 1 degree cooling of the atmosphere but it  
sounds more like permaculture to me than "geo-engineering".

The full article with diagrams and video is here, text is reprinted  
below:

http://www.truthandprogress.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=718

So what are YOU waiting for?  Get yourself along to APC9 and lets  
come up with some solutions to the water crisis.  The subject of  
water appears to have gone off the boil lately in the media but in my  
opinion is the most critical challenge that must be attended to  
before anything else.  I reckon we will run out of water long before  
we run out of oil and going thirsty on a hot planet could be the  
first clip over the ear'ole mother nature will give us.

See you at APC9 (I hope), contact me today for phone registrations at  
earlybird rates, offer closes at midnight.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Robyn Williamson
APC9 Secretariat
info at apc9.org.au
Ph/Fx:  (02) 9629 3560
Mobile:  0409 151 435
http://apc9.org.au


Geoengineering: basic principles, some thoughts, some questions
by: a siegel
Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 13:20:13 PM EST

In the face of the potential for catastrophic climate change and  
global warming, "geo-engineering" is an arena getting a little  
attention and some press, such as W Broad, NYT Times.  Geoengineering  
is the deliberate modification of Earth's environment on a large  
scale "to suit human needs and promote habitability".

One can argue that all efforts to control carbon emissions (to  
reverse past emissions) falls within GeoEngineering, but that is not  
the general context of consideration, which often focuses on efforts  
that would, somehow, have a direct impact on Earth's temperatures  
(and not, necessarily, on carbon loads).
One step back question, which does not necessarily seem to occur in  
many conversation, is what principles should guide Geo-Engineering  
efforts and prioritization of their potential.

Some thoughts as to principles
The core principle should be: win-win-win.  A proposal that, in a  
systems of systems effort, provides multiple wins and does not solely  
address temperature.  Thus, a proposal that offers real potential for  
improving economy, reducing carbon, and contributing to reduced  
temperature (both directly, somehow, and indirectly through reduced  
carbon loads or carbon capture) would seem to merit greater  
prioritization than high-cost efforts that would solely impact  
"temperature" but not impact (or worsen) the carbon load equation.
Risk factors must be placed into the equation.   How "known" are the  
system-of-system implications? Does it create other problems while  
"solving" (or ameliorating or delaying) temperature challenges?
And, can the response be done quickly, affordable, and in a  
distributed fashion?
These seem to be some questions that can be asked to see whether 'win- 
win-win' is possible.
Looking at options:  Five "traditional" proposals

Wikipedia provides five examples of GeoEngineering

Mirrors in space:  with the purpose to deflect a percentage of solar  
sunlight into space, using mirrors floating around the earth.

Stratosphere sulfur-spraying: with the purpose to modify the earth's  
albedo with reflective or absorptive materials spread over portions  
of its surface.

Nourishment: with the purpose to fertilize the ocean with iron to  
encourage algae growth.

Cloud-seeding: with the purpose to spray seawater in the atmosphere  
to increase the reflectiveness of clouds.

Artificial Trees: with the purpose to suck carbon out of the atmosphere.
While each is interesting (even intriguing) in its own way(s), these  
seem to (across the board) fail the "win-win-win" equation process  
(although, to be honest, the artificial trees are rather interesting  
to consider).  The space mirrors would be tremendously  
(prohibitively) expensive and do nothing about carbon loads (and,  
potentially, actually worsen them).  The Sulphur risks more acid rain  
for a limited gain in slowing warming trends.  The Iron Seeding seems  
to have limited results in testing and has uncertain long-term  
prospects.  Cloud-Seeding, again, is a net carbon cost (the energy to  
run the system) with some uncertainty over the impact.  Each of these  
merits more attention than one summary paragraph can provide, but to  
summarize: these are not win-win-win strategies.

Do Geo-Engineering Win-Win-Win Spaces Exist?

Okay, I've set out a few ideas on principles, created a challenge.   
Is it a challenge that can realistically be met.  Simply put:  yes!   
Here are several paths to help contribute to dealing with temperature  
levels that go to a positive space in other arenas.

Reflective Roofing:  A typical 'asphalt' shingle/such roof, with a  
very low albedo factor (reflectivity) absorb substantial amounts of  
solar radiation through the year.  Shifting to a reflective roofing  
material can send much of that solar radiation back to space. It is  
also highly cost effective because it can reduce air conditioning  
loads and increase roof longevity.  Some payback analysis suggests  
that, when compared to 'traditional' roofing, reflective roofs can  
pay back the added cost in just a few weeks.  Now, what about the  
heat/cooling impact globally?

The Earth has an albedo of 0.29, meaning that it reflects 29 per cent  
of the sunlight that falls upon it. With an albedo of 0.1, towns  
absorb more sunlight than the global average. Painting all roofs  
white could nudge the Earth's albedo from 0.29 towards 0.30.  
According to a very simple "zero-dimensional" model of the Earth,  
this would lead to a drop in global temperature of up to 1 °C, almost  
exactly cancelling out the global warming that has taken place since  
the start of the industrial revolution. A zero-dimensional model,  
however, excludes the atmosphere and, crucially, the role of clouds.  
[But!] It would be interesting to see if more sophisticated models  
predict a similar magnitude of cooling.

As much as 1 degree centigrade via white roofing!  Perhaps it is time  
to start changing building codes and reflecting some sun back to  
space.  And, remember, this will lower carbon loads through energy  
efficiency and reduced roofing replacement requirements in out years.  
And, another win element: this can be done by almost any  
organization, any government, any individual ... now. And, they will  
save money while helping to save the planet's habilitability.
Permaculture:  We can reclaim deserts through inexpensive but quite  
thoughtful practices, reducing the heat loads in these areas,  
capturing carbon, and fostering economic activity.  Don't believe  
me?  Take a few moments to watch this.  [Geoff Lawton video  
"Reclaiming the Deserts"]

Again, permaculture can be used for good effect almost anywhere, at  
low cost with a high benefit.  What are we waiting for?

Agrichar / Biochar / Terra Preta:   Very simply, we have the  
potential for a carbon-negative fuel that will, over time, also  
foster improve fertility in soil.  Very simply, gasification of  
biomass can be combined with agricultural practices to create energy,  
have the waste plowed back into the soil to improve fertility (while  
reducing fertilizer requirements), and have some of the carbon from  
each of these cycles captured in the soil.  "[T]he great advantage of  
biochar is the fact that the technique can be applied world-wide on  
agricultual soils, and even by rural communities in the developing  
world because it is relatively low tech." This is a highly promising  
arena that is getting attention, but perhaps not enough.  For some  
additional discussion, for example, see: Energize America (also);  
Biochar: The New Frontier; The pay dirt of El Dorado; International  
Biochar Initiative; Birth of a New Wedge; and Terra Preta for Carbon  
Reduction.

Roaring 40s:  Remember the ice cube being dropped in the ocean to  
solve Global Warming in Futurama?  Maybe this wasn't total lunacy.

The Roaring 40s in the southern hemisphere have tremendous wind  
resources, wind resources that are Stranded Wind.  Wind farms,  
perhaps floating wind farms, can be set up in these great winds to  
make ammonia to be used for fuel (and perhaps hydrogen and perhaps be  
used to support industrial processes in these areas).  The process of  
making this ammonia will remove heat energy from the oceans and,  
voila, contribute to ice formation.
Win-Win-Win

Geo-Engineering is staring us in the face. But, we can pursue "Geo- 
Engineering" along win-win-win paths, such that they will more than  
'pay for themselves' while helping to moderate temperature through  
the decades (centuries) of abnormally high carbon loads in the  
atmosphere.

NOTE:  Cross-posted from Energy Smart.