Over the past couple of blog entries I have once again discussed the potential of AGW to negatively affect our future on this planet. As a blog topic, it is the gift that keeps on giving because of its controversial and all-encompassing nature. One of the all-encompassing themes is that the entire biosphere will be nearly destroyed by 2100 (according to some environmental forecasters). While this sounds dramatic, it is not a threat that I rank very high on my list of “existential threats”. Long before we are significantly threatened as a species by more extreme temperature fluctuations, more extreme weather, or just plain steadily increasing temperatures, we will face much greater threats from biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and advanced weapons.

Nick Bostrom

Nick Bostrom of Oxford does a good job (very in depth as well) explaining the risks we are facing in this recent article and AGW is not high on the list. He even downplays the risk of the earth getting hit by a killer asteroid (which I have written about before). Perhaps he is right as a recent analysis indicates we would be able too deflect or destroy and asteroid with nuclear bombs.

In any case, human-originated technological threats are a reality in the short term. AGW could be a threat in the medium term. It is incumbent upon us – the current generations living on the earth –  to make sure we harness our technology for the benefit of all humans (and life in general). I routinely update you on how we are inventing a new alternative energy future and I have mentioned often how we could leverage our technology to “fix” any potential future problems caused by AGW. It has always been and is our future destiny to manipulate the weather and climate to enough a degree to sustain our life on this planet. Embrace it. Keep the future safe for all that will come after us.

Have a good weekend! Meteorologist Justin Loew.

Posted under AGW, Climate Change, Technology