How fast should we move? Part 2

Link to part 1

Here's another metaphor: Humanity is an inexperienced pilot who has just banked too hard to the right, and the plane is on the verge of going into a tailspin. We obviously have to push the stick hard to the left, but since we have no training in how to handle this situation, any move we make will undoubtedly be either too much or not enough.

• If we bank too hard, we might soon be spinning out in the other direction if we don't take immediate action to stabilize ourselves. As an example, let's say someone decides to release J. Craig Venter's carbon-dioxide-eating microbes into the atmosphere, and they get out of control. Then we'll have to think fast to find a way to prevent them from plunging us into an ice age and possibly outcompeting plants for the CO₂ they need to survive.


• If we don't bank hard enough, well, we'll be farther from the brink and we can keep working toward balance by degrees. This is the best-case scenario, even though the failure of any given drastic measure to solve the entire problem will be somewhat disheartening to many.


• If we choose to "stay the course" and avoid taking corrective action until we're already spiraling toward the ground, then now is a good time to start figuring out how we're going to pull ourselves out of the tailspin...