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Cool the World, Wreck the System: The Illusion of Control
Manage episode 509452028 series 3593604
In this episode I discuss geoengineering, focusing on the UK’s proposed aerosol project to reflect sunlight and reduce global temperatures. I explain the greenhouse effect and why gases like CO₂ and methane trap heat, before turning to the deeper issue of naive intervention—our tendency to assume linear, one-to-one outcomes in inherently complex systems. I discuss the concept of causal opacity, where true causes in interconnected systems are inaccessible, and emphasize nonlinear dynamics as the universal mechanism driving unpredictable side effects and potential collapse. The larger point is that policy and science must respect complexity rather than oversimplify it.
Suggested Reading
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/22/uk-scientists-outdoor-geoengineering-experiments
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