Memorandum 153
Submission from the National Oceanography
Centre, Southampton
The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton,
(NOCS) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Engineering
Case Study, "Geo-Engineering."
SUMMARY
- Geo-engineering offers the possibility
to contribute to endeavours to counteract global climate change.
However the evidence to suggest it is likely to provide a sustainable,
long-term solution is not yet available.
- The costs and side-effects of the various
geo-engineering schemes proposed have not so far been adequately
researched.
- Modelling the consequences of geo-engineering
must be informed by in situ observations, monitoring and experiments
and these must involve a wide selection of the scientific disciplines.
- Geo-engineering offers great scope for
engagement with young people.
- Engineers, together with scientists, have
a significant role to play in informing policy.
- The international legal framework does
not yet exist to regulate the deployment of large scale geo-engineering
activities and again this must be developed with the advice of
the scientific and engineering experts.
1. THE CURRENT
AND POTENTIAL
ROLES OF
ENGINEERING AND
ENGINEERS IN
GEO-ENGINEERING
SOLUTIONS TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
1.1 Whilst geo-engineering might assist
in counteracting global climate change, the evidence to suggest
it is likely to provide a sustainable, long-term solution is not
yet available.
1.2 In order to determine the effectiveness
of geo-engineering, research is required, as are pilot projects
and a much better understanding of the costs and difficulties
that may be encountered-especially of concern are "surprises"-the
unexpected consequences of what might seem a relatively harmless
intervention in the Earth system, such as adding iron to the oceans
to stimulate plankton production.
1.3 There could be innovative geo-engineering
solutions to excess carbon production that are as-yet unrealised-the
prize is so valuable that it is worth exploring the options.
1.4 Engineers and scientists have an essential
role to play in understanding the stability of captured carbon
reservoirs, and identifying any side-effects that could be very
difficult to rectify. For example, a leaking reservoir could affect
the acidity of adjacent waters and have a harmful effect on marine
life.
1.5 Modelling the consequences of geo-engineering
such as iron fertilisation or geological carbon storage has to
be informed by real-world observations, monitoring and process
experiments.
1.6 Engineering solutions that are not informed
by collaboration with other scientists will probably lead to incorrect
conclusions. For example a few years ago it was suggested that
excess carbon could simply be pumped into the deep ocean-in engineering
terms a workable and not too expensive solution. Fortunately marine
biologists became aware of the proposal and were able to point
out that this approach would lead to widescale destruction of
deep-ocean ecosystems which would be hard to reverse.
2. NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
ACTIVITY, AND
RESEARCH FUNDING,
RELATED TO
GEO-ENGINEERING,
AND THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN,
AND INTERFACE
WITH, THIS
FIELD AND
RESEARCH CONDUCTED
TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS
2.1 See submission from NERC (memorandum
15).
3. THE PROVISION
OF UNIVERSITY
COURSES AND
OTHER FORMS
OF TRAINING
RELEVANT TO
GEO-ENGINEERING
IN THE
UK
3.1 Geo-engineering is not taught as a separate
subject at NOCS, but is covered briefly within earth sciences
taught undergraduate and Masters courses.
4. THE STATUS
OF GEO-ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGIES IN
GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY
AND ACADEMIA
4.1 There is a cautious approach to geo-engineering
in the academic community. There is optimism that a geo-engineering
approach can deliver some much-needed answers to problems faced
by the planet, but a concern that geo-engineering could be used
as a "sticking plaster" to avoid difficult decisions.
4.2 Unless a holistic perspective is taken
geo-engineering could potentially result in solutions that are
technically feasible and affordable, but have undesirable side-effects
eg by making the oceans more acidic or accidentally triggering
an unexpected ecosystem response. It is essential that engineers
liaise with other disciplines to avoid even bigger problems, but
there are relatively few places in academia where this approach
occurs.
4.3 There is a perception that multi- and
interdisciplinary science does not fare well under existing science
funding schemes. The peer review process tends not to favour research
that crosses boundaries, and the career prospects of researchers
who dare cross boundaries have historically not been as good as
for those who stay firmly in their field. This situation needs
to be addressed if a closer working relationship between engineers
and scientists is to evolve.
5. GEO-ENGINEERING
AND ENGAGING
YOUNG PEOPLE
IN THE
ENGINEERING PROFESSION
5.1 Geo-engineering is an inspiring subject
for young people, offering hope that damage to the Earth can be
repaired, and offering in the very long term the prospect of "terra-forming"
other worlds so that they may be inhabitable by our descendants.
Against that hope is the suspicion of the young that engineering
solutions might be used to delay or prevent much-needed changes
in societal behaviour-why stop polluting if you can just suck-up
the gases?
5.2 On the positive side this offers an
excellent area for engagement that involves science, technology,
ethics, economics, politics and the understanding of the role
of the engineer in society.
5.3 In our experience of outreach and education
activities, climate change certainly engages the interest of young
people, and although we have no evidence, it is possible that
geo-engineering aspects might attract a young person into embarking
on a science or engineering career to help make a difference.
However engineering is perceived as a hard subject, requiring
a high level of numeracy.
5.4 One issue in working with idealistic
young people is that it is clear to them that the companies producing
fossil fuel are likely to be the same companies that could engage
in geo-engineering activities, in part because carbon dioxide
injection into depleted reservoirs may also enhance oil or gas
recovery. This raises significant ethical issues for young people,
who are suspicious of the motives of large energy companies.
6. THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERS
IN INFORMING
POLICY-MAKERS
AND THE
PUBLIC REGARDING
THE POTENTIAL
COSTS, BENEFITS
AND RESEARCH
STATUS OF
DIFFERENT GEO-ENGINEERING
SCHEMES
6.1 Engineers, engineering learned societies
and professional bodies, informed by the scientific community,
together have a key role in informing policy-makers and the public
regarding the potential costs, benefits and research status of
different geo-engineering schemes.
6.2 There is a pressing need to develop
geo-engineering solutions to the problem of anthropogenic greenhouse
gas production. Carbon capture and storage shows great promise,
building upon proven technology developed in the oil and gas production
sector for enhanced reservoir recovery. More recently Norwegian
company Statoil has successfully demonstrated that carbon dioxide
can be injected and stored in subsea geological formations. Engineers
are gaining a realistic basis to determine the actual costs of
injecting carbon dioxide into suitable geological formations,
and ensuring that it stays there.
6.3 Engineers can use the data obtained
from the operational nature of fossil-fuel, renewable and nuclear
energy generation to provide the basis for realistic comparisons
of their cost and effectiveness with geo-engineering options.
This will enable the relative expense and risk of the two options-reducing
emissions and masking their effects-to be properly evaluated.
6.4 Engineers working in collaboration with
scientists are in an excellent position to alert policy makers
of areas of concern regarding possible geo-engineering solutions,
eg the possible risks of iron fertilisation in the oceans, or
of adding carbon dioxide to deep ocean ecosystems.
6.5 Large scale geo-engineering will have
consequences for the global community. Policy instruments will
need to be developed to address ethical, legal and compensatory
frameworks. International consensus will be necessary to develop
geo-engineering solutions that take place in international waters
or in geological structures that cross borders.
References
Lampitt, RS, Achterberg, EP, Anderson, TR, Hughes,
JA, Iglesias-Rodriguez, MD, Kelly-Gerreyn, BA, Lucas, M, Popova,
EE, Sanders, R, Shepherd, JG, Smythe-Wright, D and Yool, A (2008)
Ocean fertilisation: a potential means of geo-engineering?
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 29 August 2008.
Shepherd, J (2008) Journal club: An oceanographer
sees potential in accelerating rock weathering to soak up carbon
dioxide from the air. Nature, 451, (7180), p 749.
John Shepherd, Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez, Andrew
Yool (2007) Geo-engineering might cause, not cure, problems
Nature 449, 781-781, doi: 10.1038/449781a, Correspondence.
October 2008
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