Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years

[Viking12]

An interesting article in the August 13th issue of Science. Technically feasible, probably. Economically and socially, ?????.


Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies

S. Pacala1* and R. Socolow2*

Abstract

Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial know-how to solve the carbon and climate problem for the next half-century. A portfolio of technologies now exists to meet the world's energy needs over the next 50 years and limit atmospheric CO2 to a trajectory that avoids a doubling of the preindustrial concentration. Every element in this portfolio has passed beyond the laboratory bench and demonstration project; many are already implemented somewhere at full industrial scale. Although no element is a credible candidate for doing the entire job (or even half the job) by itself, the portfolio as a whole is large enough that not every element has to be used.

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/305/5686/968

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On edit: Science, Vol 305, Issue 5686, 968-972 , 13 August 2004