The Gaia Hypothesis:
Lovelock formulated the Gaia Hypothesis. Although initially controversial, the hypothesis has been revised to recognise the earth as a single, self regulating system with physical, chemical, biological and anthropogenic components. Lovelock's Gaia view of the Earth System highlights humans as a fundamental part of Gaia, not as a disease but as it's nervous system - as the heart and mind of the Earth (Lovelock, 2008).
The Revenge of Gaia:
In Lovelock's 2006 book, The Revenge of Gaia, he represents Gaia as the Earth System and criticises humans for their lack of respect for it. The book argues that it is too late for human's to repair the damage they have now made and that the planet will begin to undergo a range of irreversible positive feedbacks leading to the demise of the human race. However, in A geophysiologist's thoughts on geoengineering Lovelock follows this same view but characterises geoengineering as a time buying strategy allowing us to adapt before extreme climate change. The interview below taken by Nature from 7:30 minutes onwards, provides a short summary of Lovelock's views on geoengineering and the future of the planet. Of particular note is his mention of how humans are capable of prolonging the life of the planet through intelligent innovation.
Is Lovelock right?
In his recent publications and the interview above, Lovelock has taken a fairly pessimistic stance point on our long term ability to manage climate change, suggesting geoengineering as simply a time saving strategy. Despite this, he remains optimistic that the Earth System itself will overcome such changes but mentions that the fate of humanity remains questionable, requiring intense adaptation. In my opinion, Lovelock's mention of 'intense adaptation' is what I class as geoengineering. Rather than accepting our fate new strategies are being developed and therefore I disagree with Lovelock when he refers to the future of humanity as doomed. Geoengineering represents our adaptation.
What did stand out to me as meaningful in this debate was Lovelock's underlying view that all organisms are planetary geoengineers. He believes species work to provide the most favourable conditions for themselves and ultimately reproduce to become a dominating population (Morton, 2007). Similarly, humans became geoengineers soon after we began clearing land, using fire and cooking food. Only now however, have we become aware of our actions as we surround ourself within an engineered world. Lovelock went on to describe this as the final straw for humanity, with our downfall inevitable. However, I disagree. Humans managed to engineer the Earth to suit our needs, through discovery, innovations, working together and developing technology. As the planet begins to provide unfavourable needs, I am confident that the human race can once more engineer the Earth back to a desired state.
Medicine for a feverish Earth:
Lovelock made an interesting comparison between current geoengineering pioneers and physiologists before the 1940s. As discussed in Lewis Thomas' (1983) book The Youngest Science, before the second World War, there were only 5 medicines available, treating 5 illnesses. During this period, physiologists knew little about these medicines and remained ignorant about the human body. A similar ignorance can also be applied to the Earth System today. The few cures we are currently presented with (CDR and solar management) are surrounded with suspicion and uncertainty. However, with time, technology and greater attention to the Earth System we could be met with a plethora of cures for individual biomes, components or cells within the Earth System that we are such a key part of. Therefore, geoengineers should be celebrated as Earth doctors who must strive to find a cure to our feverish Earth.
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| James Lovelock posing with a statue of the greek god Gaia (Source: http://ecolo.org) |
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