The IPCC case depicts the scenario where only minimal attention is paid to the threat of Climate Change.
Slightly better than doing nothing would be to wait until the situation is unambiguous before acting, and/or just work on long-term measures.
Polar bears, musk-ox, penguins, caribou, royal Bengal tiger, monarch butterfly, iguanas, sea birds, coral...
These are just a few of the species being threatened in the wake of Global Warming. Our only option now is to select solutions which will have the least harmful effects, on the fewest individuals possible. The longer we idly sit back, the more likely we are to be crossing these species off the survival list.
Best Case Scenario (Lower Damage Limit) - The Fully Committed Solution
Let's assume that the world's technological and political will were fully engaged, and our best efforts were concentrated on beating the Global Warming problem.
So lets look at an 'ideal' (but not unimaginable) solution to the excess of CO 2 in the atmosphere. What would we hope to achieve, and how soon?
| Item | Develop Technology |
Problem Solved |
| Curb excess CO 2 emissions | 10-50 years |
200 years |
| Remove historical CO 2 | 10-20 years |
150 years |
| Active Global Cooling |
10-30 years
|
50 years |
The Environmental Practicalities of STEP
How close to the Best Case can we realistically get?
STEP Engineering is based on 2000's technology with minor developments which can be envisaged as well within our grasp. This means that existing industry can be used to initiate the recovery. With our short-term solutions we can greatly reduce the time taken to start addressing the problems:
| Item | Develop STEP |
See STEP schemes |
| Curb Greenhouse Gas emissions | 10 years |
STEP 09, 10, 11 |
| Remove historical CO 2 | 10 years |
STEP 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08,12 |
| Active Global Cooling |
5 years |
STEP 04, 08, 13 |