Nature vs. Technology

One of the ways people try to frame the challenge of climate change mitigation is "natural" solutions vs. "technological" solutions. We all have this intuitive sense that nature operates in a kind of balance - and if we have inadvertently or knowingly upset that balance; maybe it will be like a porch swing - continue to sway for a while but gradually return to equilibrium.

And that is true in some sense. There is a vast amount of carbon in circulation on this planet - far more than the fossil-fuel-derived bit humanity has added. It has been in a somewhat steady equilibrium that drifts around over periods of tens- to hundreds-of-thousands of years. If we "walk away" then equilibrium will return over the next millenium or two. But the great species diversity we have now will be gone; some new species will no doubt arise if we REALLY walk away. The biosphere will adapt.

But if we want to retain what we have, the natural systems need help. Whether it is growing giant kelp in the tropics, grinding mountains to dust to accelerate rock weathering, erect great machines to clean the air, transforming our agriculture to sustainability, restoring and expanding the worlds forests, or most likely ALL of these and more - they will be human technologies; applications of science and engineering to transform the local environment and our own capabilities. So there is really no nature vs. technology issue - everything we do to restore the climate is rebalancing nature, and all of it will require us to use technology.