German coalition at loggerheads over global warming test

CLIMATE SCIENCE

Germany OKs Atlantic global warming experiment
Germany dropped its opposition Monday to a controversial experiment to dump iron sulphate in the South Atlantic to see if it can absorb greenhouse gases and possibly help to halt global warming. "After a study of expert reports, I am convinced there are no scientific or legal objections against the ... ocean research experiment LOHAFEX," Research Minister Annette Schavan said in a statement. "I have therefore decided ... to begin the experiment," she added. Berlin had previously been cool to the expedition which set sail from Cape Town in South Africa on January 7 and is poised to drop six tonnes of the dissolved iron over 300 square kilometres (115 square miles) of ocean. Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel reportedly told Schavan in a letter that the experiment "destroys Germany's credibility and its vanguard role in protecting biodiversity." Scientists on board the Polarstern research vessel hope the release of iron will cause an exponential growth in phytoplankton, which will then absorb more carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas -- through photosynthesis. But opponents of the plan fear the consequences could be catastrophic. They are concerned it could cause the sea to become more acidic or trigger algal blooms that would strip swathes of the ocean of oxygen. Once written off as irresponsible or madcap, geo-engineering schemes such as LOHAFEX are getting a closer hearing in the absence of political progress to roll back the greenhouse gas problem. Other, far less advanced, projects include sowing sulphur particles in the stratosphere to reflect solar radiation and erecting mirrors in orbit that would deflect sunrays and thus slightly cool the planet. Green groups worry that such projects could cause more problems than they resolve. They also say these schemes' financial cost is unknown -- and possibly cost far more than reducing emissions in the first place.

by Staff Writers
Berlin (AFP) Jan 26, 2009
Germany's coalition government on Monday was at loggerheads over plans to dump iron sulphate in the South Atlantic to see if it can absorb greenhouse gases and help stop global warming.

The Social Democrat-led environment ministry issued a statement criticising the Christian Democrat-led research ministry's earlier decision to approve the controversial experiment.

The public nature of the row is seen as a sign of deteriorating relations between the two ruling parties ahead of September general elections.

Research Minister Annette Schavan, who is a member of the CDU, gave the test the green light Monday saying "after a study of expert reports, I am convinced there are no scientific or legal objections against the... ocean research experiment LOHAFEX."

However, a spokesman for the environment ministry, whose head Sigmar Gabriel is a member of the SDP, later said in the statement that the ministry "regrets the decision" to approve the LOHAFEX test.

An expedition set sail from Cape Town in South Africa on January 7 and is poised to drop six tonnes of the dissolved iron over 300 square kilometres (115 square miles) of ocean.

Gabriel had reportedly told Schavan in an earlier letter that the experiment "destroys Germany's credibility and its vanguard role in protecting biodiversity."

Scientists on board the Polarstern research vessel hope the release of iron will cause an exponential growth in phytoplankton, which will then absorb more carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas -- through photosynthesis.

But opponents of the plan fear the consequences could be catastrophic. They are concerned it could cause the sea to become more acidic or trigger algal blooms that would strip swathes of the ocean of oxygen.

Once written off as irresponsible or madcap, geo-engineering schemes such as LOHAFEX are getting a closer hearing in the absence of political progress to roll back the greenhouse gas problem.

Other, far less advanced, projects include sowing sulphur particles in the stratosphere to reflect solar radiation and erecting mirrors in orbit that would deflect sunrays and thus slightly cool the planet.

Green groups worry that such projects could cause more problems than they resolve. They also say these schemes' financial cost is unknown -- and possibly cost far more than reducing emissions in the first place.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us Digg Reddit

YahooMyWeb Google Facebook

Related Links
Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

CLIMATE SCIENCE

Obama to world: we will lead on climate change

Washington (AFP) Jan 26, 2009
US President Barack Obama Monday vowed to lead the world on climate change as he set about shredding Bush administration global warming policies with new domestic measures designed to force the development of fuel-efficient cars.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT Fresh warnings after storm kills 26 in southern Europe France, Spain pick up the pieces after storm kills 21 Myanmar cyclone and China quake dominate 2008 toll Indonesia braces for flood-related diseases	CLIMATE SCIENCE German coalition at loggerheads over global warming test Clinton picks climate envoy, in another break with Bush Obama to world: we will lead on climate change GOSAT To Monitor Greenhouse Gases
EARTH OBSERVATION Delta 2 Set To Launch Polar Satellite Feb 4 ABB Interferometer Rides On Board GOSAT GeoEye-1 Snaps Democracy First Global Hawk Unmanned System For Environmental Science Research	ENERGY TECH Analysis: Oil and Gas Pipeline Watch Renewable energy agency set up in Germany Oil spill in Russian Far East kills hundreds of birds: reports Analysis: Turkmen pipeline security
EPIDEMICS China reports fifth bird flu death this year Cholera from Zimbabwe spreads in Kruger's rivers: spokesman Sixth person infected with bird flu in China: govt Wallet-Sized Malaria Tests Promise Better Diagnoses	FLORA AND FAUNA Sierra Leone launches first chimp census Bacterial Pathogens And Rising Temperatures Threaten Coral Health Panda mania sweeps Taiwan Invasions By Alien Plants Have Been Mapped In European Union
FROTH AND BUBBLE Study Links Water Pollution With Declining Male Fertility Blame game as Mexico City trash piles up HK pollution levels 10 times clean air guidelines: scientists Refinery Dust Reveals Clues About Local Polluters	ABOUT US Training Key To Keyhole Surgery Meeting EU Time Directives Reduced pollution increases life expectancy: study Pacific People Spread From Taiwan Mummies Calling For Lenin Burial Arrested On Red Square

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement