Bjorn Lomborg is an economist who writes on global warming. He acknowledges that the global warming exists, but he doubts the severity of the problem and the potential for success from many of the misguided policies being proposed.
In the 8/28/09 Wall Street Journal Lomborg notes in “Technology Can Fight Global Warming” that there are many much less costly solutions to the problem than onerous policies that restrict growth and seem nearly politically impossible. Increase planting of trees, for example, would absorb expelled CO2.
More intriguing is a proposal from J. Eric Bickel and Lee lane to have boats spray seawater into clouds above the ocean reflecting more sunlight back into space. While costing billions it would seem small compared to the costs of the growth killing government proposals. Similar proposals have been made to lighten the color of our asphalt and roof tiles to reduce heat absorption.
While these proposals are questionable the idea of seeking better and more cost effective solution in applications of technology rather than in cumbersome and destructive government policies is worthy of strong consideration if we can extract political ideology from the science.
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