I do agree with you and I'm not trying to defend the way this guy has gone about this.
However, the path we're on now is basically, "we know we're fucked, but let's do nothing."
The UN is not going to be able to agree on anything more active than Kyoto. In the US, Romney is using Obama's previous comments on climate change as a laugh line. The EU has plenty of luddites themselves; they would never agree to fertilizing parts of the ocean for fear of negative side effects. For the scientific community to come to a consensus would take decades.
So I agree that we need to be cautious. But right now it seems we're just rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.
I have a theory that shooting holes in clouds makes the rain pour out. I can't get the UN to agree on it, but I do have a lot of bullets and a rifle.
"It takes too long" isn't a good excuse for acting in an unsafe or illegal manner. If it does work, good. But the guy should still be punished for acting in an unsafe and illegal manner. If he damages the environment, he should be punished for breaking the law and for the damage done. If he succeeds, he should be celebrated for his solution, but still punished for breaking the law.
Driving at a steady speed between freeway and city driving and blowing through stoplights will save on greenhouse gas emissions from accelerating a car, but it's still dangerous and illegal.
I do agree with you and I'm not trying to defend the way this guy has gone about this.
However, the path we're on now is basically, "we know we're fucked, but let's do nothing."
The UN is not going to be able to agree on anything more active than Kyoto. In the US, Romney is using Obama's previous comments on climate change as a laugh line. The EU has plenty of luddites themselves; they would never agree to fertilizing parts of the ocean for fear of negative side effects. For the scientific community to come to a consensus would take decades.
So I agree that we need to be cautious. But right now it seems we're just rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.