Can Problems From Climate Change Be Addressed With Science? (scientificamerican.com)

Slashdot reader bricko shares an article from Scientific American about two "ecomodernists" who argue that the problems of climate change can be addressed through science and technology. In his Breakthrough essay, Steven Pinker spells out a key assumption of ecomodernism. Industrialization "has been good for humanity. It has fed billions, doubled lifespans, slashed extreme poverty, and, by replacing muscle with machinery, made it easier to end slavery, emancipate women, and educate children. It has allowed people to read at night, live where they want, stay warm in winter, see the world, and multiply human contact. Any costs in pollution and habitat loss have to be weighed against these gifts...."

We can solve problems related to climate change, Pinker argues, "if we sustain the benevolent forces of modernity that have allowed us to solve problems so far, including societal prosperity, wisely regulated markets, international governance, and investments in science and technology... Since 1970, when the Environmental Protection Agency was established, the United States has slashed its emissions of five air pollutants by almost two-thirds. Over the same period, the population grew by more than 40 percent, and those people drove twice as many miles and became two and a half times richer. Energy use has leveled off, and even carbon dioxide emissions have turned a corner."
The essay also cites ecomodernist Will Boisvert, who believes climate change will be cataclysmic but not apocalyptic, bringing large upheaval but a small impact on human well-being. "Global warming won't wipe us out or even stall our progress, it will just marginally slow ordinary economic development that will still outpace the negative effects of warming and make life steadily better in the future, under every climate scenario.... Our logistic and technical capacities are burgeoning, and they give us ample means of addressing these problems."

Comments

A you kidding me?

[wellingj]

Is it super natural? No? Then yes science can eventually get there.

Re:A you kidding me?

[jellomizer]

Well it is possible, as this is a Man Made problem. We have technology that can scrub carbon and other green house gasses from the atmosphere. There is alternative energy sources which we can use for a lot of cases.
The problem right now isn't that we don't know how to do it. It is the fact we lack the leadership to do it. Not enough politicians are willing to anger people who will just flat out not believe the problem exists or place it as part of some conspiracy of the other side. And such actions will come at a cost, that we currently don't want to stand up and pay it.