Earthmasters: The Dawn of the Age of Climate
Engineering by Dr Clive
Hamilton



an unavoidable discussion

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Hamilton
claims that he wrote this book because there was a dangerous gap in commentary
about humanity's options if it did not reduce the burning of fossil fuel. He's
right, and this book begins to fill the gap. It classifies technologies
according to whether they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or reduce
tropospheric heating. His discussion of the measures he considers most likely
(as distinct from most feasible) is reasonably complete. Hamilton examines the
constraints (legal and practical), the risks (significant) and the possible
outcomes. Importantly, he pulls no punches in teasing apart the motives and
track records of the proponents of such grand schemes as liming the oceans,
seeding the atmosphere and more. While there might be approaches he does not
cover completely, such as implementation of multiple technologies, he succeeds
in alerting his readership to a looming issue. I have seen him put his views in
a hall full of scientific experts and they hold up well.

The
final two chapters, "Ethical anxieties" and "This Goodly Frame", indulge in a
little philosophical and historical navel-gazing. They are of interest but lack
the urgency of the early discussion. The Notes, including references, are
excellent, current and reflect Hamilton's long term familiarity with climate
change issues.