Climate change and ecology

The Air and Rail tycoon, Branson come up with his genius idea in publish Friday, 9 February 2007 on the bbc website,offering 25 million for those who can come up with the best idea to remove carbon dioxide (CFCc) from the atmosphere. Sound like a good idea to me, but I personally not worried that we will suddenly remove too much CO2 from the atmosphere. Whereas my biggest concern is that even a very modest effort like this would be used as an excuse to keep burning coal in the filthiest way possible and actually make things worse.

The $25 million on the other hand, I have confidence it will help motivate funding for the people already working on the problem, and might get some innovative idea off the drawing board a little faster. Even if atmospheric carbon sequestration isn’t the most efficient solution, it might help, and even if it turns out a complete letdown,the global warming fight only lost $25 million. There will be plenty more money in the coming years, and in the meantime, this prize has gotten global warming a lot more press. Seems like a win-win solution for me, therefore I don’t see how Branson’s offer can hurt.

Every l bit helps, and along with alternative energy, reduce, reuse, recycle, and planting real trees, this type of thing may become a part of the overall solutions package. But it won’t solve the problem. It will only help a little. Solutions to excessive emissions require first and foremost changes in behavior by all of us. The unfortunate desire (which we all share) to rant and rave, to be right at the expense of others, and to keep fighting yesterday’s battles can stop us from achieving our goals.

Godfrey,
( I am posting this blog with james account due to some techincal difficulties with my current account)