What happens once we control the global thermostat?

Beyond climate change: what happens once we control the global thermostat?

As the floods flooded Toronto, New York City experienced the largest single-hour downpour on record, and the fires continued in Oregon…

In the past six months, I have started writing this article a dozen times, and each time I can start with some new black swan weather event that is almost certainly affected by climate change. At the same time, the only thing as common as weird weather seems to be the frequency with which those in power fail to take sufficient action on climate change (see: COP26).

Spending time immersed in this field, or even just reading articles, many topics are appropriate: climate change here. it is injustice. This can be prevented.Most likely deterioration. However, what I don’t often hear is that efforts to stop climate change are not only possible, but ExcitingThe technologies that we develop today to mitigate or even reverse climate change are of great significance to the history of mankind and the planet: we will be the first deliberately The thermostat in charge of the earth.

I can speak from a privileged position.In the past few years, I have been Invest in startups Has a positive ecosystem and climate impact. Some people are working on electrification and efficiency to reduce the demand for oil and gas in the first place. Others are looking for ways to effectively capture carbon dioxide in the ocean or the atmosphere, so we can not only stop emissions, but also have the opportunity to restore our atmospheric levels to 280 parts per million (PPM) that almost all human civilizations did not know until recently.

My investment is only a small part of the broader movement; since 2013, venture capital investment in climate has increased by 3,750%, while environmentally and socially responsible investment has soared to US$30 trillion per year. This makes possible an entire new business ecosystem that could not have existed ten years ago. What is unknown is whether this phenomenon looks like a bubble (like the early clean technology bubbles), or whether the destructive power of climate change is so strong that this market trend will continue.

Personally, I am bullish. My basic principle is as follows:

• Climate change will get worse before it improves. This is news to people who are not following; the world is increasing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere every day, thereby absorbing more solar heat. This, in turn, will disrupt climate patterns, watersheds, ocean currents, and more things that humans rely on to build civilization. Even if we stop carbon dioxide emissions today, these effects will take decades or even centuries to play out. (There is even more reason to achieve net zero emissions as soon as possible.)
• This means that new converts are brought in every year, They not only believe in climate change, but also believe that they must personally participate in the solution. Writers, politicians, artists, engineers, investors-the world needs a comprehensive change, everyone has room to use their skills, values ​​and opinions. Countries and companies that ignore these voters, employees, investors, regulators, and customers will be in danger.
• We need to reverse the clockCompared with the next few years and decades, the level of carbon dioxide in the Goldilocks period that most humans existed (approximately the past 10,000 years, which witnessed the development of agriculture and cities) will look more and more attractive. (In principle, I think 280 PPM should be the baseline CO2 level).
• The technology is here. More will come. Building technologies to mitigate, prevent, and reverse climate change should be sufficient to drive consumer and business adoption. no.Between inertia, subsidies, and legacy infrastructure, today’s entrepreneurs and technicians must actively provide better oneThis is by no means easy, but when the transition makes sense not only morally but also economically, it starts to become inevitable.

I doubt that I will see 280 PPM in my lifetime, but I will not give up hope. However, it is very likely that I will live to see us back in atmospheric carbon dioxide for the first time. This will be an incredible feat.This will mean the first time a species has appeared on earth intentionally Adjust the atmosphere. This will be a collective achievement different from any previous achievements of our species, benefiting not only us, but many other non-human inhabitants on this strange and wonderful space rock.

But don’t get me wrong: humans are already regulating our atmosphere. We are just too bad. The atmosphere we use is a bit like a bathtub with only hot water, some of us have too much control over the handle.

Will be allocated in the future. If we all agree on an ideal CO2 setting-it is no easy task, I am sure-when we exceed this number, dozens, hundreds or even thousands of concurrent projects will play a role in reducing carbon dioxide. When we emit carbon dioxide again, we are immersed under it. Some projects will work better than others. Some will use new technologies, and some will use indigenous practices that date back thousands of years. This process needs to be inclusive, and somehow we have to find a way to carefully balance all these different inputs and outputs, like an orchestra conductor, to maintain the best global temperature.

When this transition occurs, it will be slightly bittersweet.The Earth’s weather will still be unpredictable, but its atmospheric CO2 levels have already changeable In billions of years, it may be permanently static. From then on, as long as humans live on the earth, we will inevitably assume the role of caregivers, and it is very likely that we will optimize the conditions of the earth for us. This stability seems to be worthwhile, but without our stable hands (one day), who knows what direction evolution might take.

However, the benefits of these technologies will not stop on our planet. Each of the tools we develop and perfect to regulate our own atmosphere may one day prove to be equally useful to future aerospace humans, who can reuse them to transform other planets. I often hear my friends complain about the destructive tendency of mankind; in this case, we will be the first species to create a whole new world for life on earth. Very cool.

Efforts to stop climate change are an urgent moral responsibility. But for my money, nothing is more exciting than this.

Kevin Weber He is an alumnus of Columbia University’s Sustainable Development Science Program.