Can Science Fix Climate Change? A Case Against Climate Engineering
by Mike Hulme
(Polity, £9.99)

This book by Mike Hulme, a succinct and readable work on geoengineering, has a slightly but not intentionally misleading title because it is difficult to think of dealing with the threat of climate change without science. 

Climate scientists have alerted us to the problem of CO2 and other greenhouse gases such as methane trapping heat from the sun in our atmosphere, leading to rising temperatures and greater instability as we burn fossil fuels. 

The application of science in the form of particular technologies will be part of the solution to this problem — after all, developing clean renewable energy involves science.

Hulme discusses the reality that large-scale engineering projects are being proposed so that humanity can control climate. Yet so far, despite much talk and many international conferences, we have failed to reduce CO2 emissions. 

The Kyoto model of cap and trade, where countries agree to limit greenhouse gas production and buy and sell carbon permits, has failed to halt rising emissions and rising temperatures. In effect, we have done nothing to reduce the exploitation of gas, oil and coal. 

The alternative now emerging is that governments and corporations will directly control the climate instead of just trying to reduce emissions.

Carbon storage campaigns are controversial and many Greens, myself included, see them as dangerous while others argue that they are an essential step to using fossil fuels cleanly.

While carbon storage is a debate that can generate some passion, controversies around geoengineering are of a totally different scale altogther.

It may lead to giant solar mirrors being positioned in space or sulphate particles placed in the upper atmosphere to dim our skies. Interestingly, climate-sceptic think tanks have been promoting such large-scale projects to show, perhaps, that we can keep burning oil, gas and coal and not worry too much.

Hulme argues that such projects are wrong because the politics of weather control means that there will be winners and losers. The most powerful may tend to get the best weather — however that is defined — and the rest of the planet could face damage. It is easy to imagine climate engineering being used as a weapon of war or as a way of privatising the world’s skies for profit. 

He also notes that geoengineering would do nothing to reduce the acidification of oceans caused by carbon dioxide emissions.

While the book is a very clear read and a good introduction to an extremely important topic, more might have been covered. An example is the plethora of sites online claiming that geoengineering is already occurring via “chem trails.” 

Where what sounds like a crazy conspiracy has come from no-one knows and it would be interesting to find out more on the links between corporations, climate sceptics and geoengineering. 

Geoengineering covers many strands from biochar — where CO2 is used to create compost which is stored in soil — to painting roofs white to reflect sunlight, to frankly mad science-fiction type projects. 

The political, ethical and technical dimensions demand discussion and while that may be somewhat absent I would certainly recommend reading this important book.