If cooling down the planet would be all we need to do to secure our future, scientists already have the answer; it’s called geoengineering. In light of climate change studies of past decades, geoengineering is becoming an increasingly accepted possible solution for global warming. The problem with it though, is that it is a short-term, risky measure.

The methods range from spraying a fine mist of seawater into low-lying clouds (resulting in an increased reflection of sunlight off clouds), or injecting gas particles that block sunlight into the stratosphere, to launching trillions of mirroring disks into space. Although it is said that direct costs of geoengineering schemes could be as low as few hundredths of that of occuring expenses for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, experience tells us that short-sighted measures have caused massive indirect environmental damage in our past. What is more, reducing global temparature at rising levels of carbon dioxide emission ultimately will lead to the same result: the destruction of our planet. Hence geoengineering is, at least for now, rather to be seen as a “climate-engineering patch”.

A lot of funding is still needed for research in this area. It is first and foremost the responsibility of governments to cooperate with each other in matters concerning sustainable technologies. Concentrating resources on internationally coordinated research programs, for example, would speed up the innovation process. There have also been potential alternative technology proposals, such as capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with chemical reactions and permanently storing them. This could even work a thousand times faster than the rate at which trees absorb CO2, but the underlying technology is still challenging to develop.

Source: Technology Review issue JAN/FEB ‘10: The Geoengineering Gambit

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Welcome to HOPEnhagen.

Stepping out of the airplane we found ourselves surrounded by advertisments centered around one topic: climate change. It seems like every single product sold in whole Copenhagen turned into a green one. Mobile phones, cars…everything. Welcome to HOPEnhagen, the place to be.

Despite the lack of sleep during the last nights, that were busy with preperation, we landed here full of engery and totally excited to be part of the decision taken these days – a decision, that will shape the future of mankind.

The COP15 bus was already waiting outside the arrival hall, ready to take us to Bella Center. With our 6 pieces of luggage full of inspiring promo-material we struggled our way to the security check and had to stand in line to get our foto badges. Once inside we saw a totally different world in front of us. A cloakroom with the size of a trainstation, hundreds of infostands, posters, ads, media labs, TV screens with kind messages to the “Leaders of the World”. Overwhelming.

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What a start.

We decided to sit down to let this atmosphere settle the Austrian way: drinking coffe (of course FairTrade out of future friendly cups). This was the beginning. It is true. This is COP15 and we are there to make a change. Wow!

The vibe caught us and we followed the impulse to run around, just like all the others - checking out the program schedule, watching a the plenary session, trying to find our way through this. While the energy started to flow, we found that some people were really lost in this spectacle. What a start.

Let’s see what is to come.

Excitedly,

Fabienne

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The world is facing serious challenges. Poverty, diseases and the depletion of important resources are just a few out of many. On top of everything else stands one that will probably impact humankind more than anything else we have seen so far: climate change. To tackle the issues of global warming is the target of COP15 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen).

What is COP15 and why is it so important?

Many call it the most important meeting in history since the ending of World War II. It will have life-changing effects on 6.8 billion people, their way of living and survival. It has the potential of saving the world as we know it… but can the global leaders act? Or will they stick to talk instead of action? Will Barack Obama (USA), Jose Manuel Barroso (EC), Wen Jiabao (China), Angela Merkel (Germany), Nicolas Sarkozy (France), Silvio Berlusconi (Italy), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran), Nikolaus Berlakovich (Austria) and more than 160 other heads of governments commit to a treaty that will help to save millions (or even billions) of people?

Once thing is for sure… this 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the biggest event on this topic that the world has seen so far. One and a half decades after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro people seem to have realized the dramatic impact that climate change already has – and will have even more over the coming years. People therefore call for a fair climate agreement (see the Seal the Deal website) that will  commit to cutting greenhouse emissions (especially CO2) considerably until 2020, establish a framework that will bolster the climate resilience of vulnerable countries and protect lives and livelihoods. In hope for justice and a prosper future 20-30.000 people will try to attend the meetings and side events that are taking place from 07 to 18 December. Ten-thousands of people are additionally expected to come for the hundreds of side events an d conferences taking place at same time (for example Klimaforum09, the global civil society counterpart of the official UN conference in the Bella Center).

What is INEX doing there?

We are following our mission of identifying, inspiring, educating & empowering change makers.

“We are committing to find 25 change making organizations to leverage our impact on society and a sustainable common future.”

By identifying these stakeholders and inspiring them to engage themselves in concrete actions (and joint projects, such as study abroad programs and other ESD projects), we will all learn on the way – and empower duplication of our efforts.

Follow us on this blog to find out how this idea evolves, what we find out on the way and how successful we are in accomplishing this plan…

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