Editor's Summary
10 May 2007
Climate change
With the rash of IPCC reports in climate much in the news, geoengineering — the deliberate large-scale modification of the environment — is now being taken seriously in scientific and political circles that would previously have scoffed at the notion. Oliver Morton reports on the state of play in the field [News Feature p. 132] On the climate change mitigation front, the incorporation of 'biochar' into the soil is one idea gaining support. Johannes Lehmann argues that trapping biomass carbon in this way is more effective than storing it in plants and trees that will one day decompose. The latest IPCC report — round 3 — is covered in the News pages this week.
News: Climate panel offers grounds for optimism
The cost of fighting global warming may not be as high as feared.
Michael Hopkin
doi:10.1038/447120a
News Feature: Climate change: Is this what it takes to save the world?
Long marginalized as a dubious idea, altering the climate through 'geoengineering' has staged something of a comeback. Oliver Morton reports.
doi:10.1038/447132a
Commentary: A handful of carbon
Locking carbon up in soil makes more sense than storing it in plants and trees that eventually decompose, argues Johannes Lehmann. Can this idea work on a large scale?
doi:10.1038/447143a
