This is What Global Warming Looks Like

[The Grand Nudger]

Absolutely. So, how do you think we might best prepare, stall, or ultimately prevent? You mentioned massive investment in alternative energies, do you have a favorite? Along what lines might we be able to persuade developing nations to forego their investments in fossil fuel based infrastructure (assuming we decided to earnestly pursue alternatives ourselves)? I'm envisioning a future here where the decreased reliance on fossil fuels by developed nations lowers their price point and/or strengthens the bargaining power of developing nations with regards to the fossil fuel industry. If they lose their best customers theyre going to aggressively court new customers, and fossil fuel based energy is a relatively cheap path to increased quality of life and national development.

Also, as far as alternatives go, would you be friendly towards the idea of terraforming to increase the effect of alternatives? What level of short term environmental damage or modification is acceptable in the march towards sustainability? How many rivers can we dam, how many windmills can we stuff in canyons, how many geothermal wells can we dig, how much shoreline can we rig for tidal, whats an acceptable amount of desert to be covered in solar? As far as biofuels go, how much contribution should be expected from them -given that biofuels compete with us for another equally valuable resource -one which Ace has concerns over- water. Also, how much of a contribution will we expect from fossil fuels, will we continue to use this asset at all or abandon it outright?

Also, I'd love to hear peoples opinions on whether or not this sort of change is best accomplished top down -ala government investment and incentive based economies- or bottom up, every one doing a small part to contribute to the larger goal. Obviously in a perfect world it would be a healthy mix of both, but I'm wondering, specifically, what people think is more effective and immediate.