Our world depends on energy, but we also face its consequences. Every bit of power we consume, every drop of fuel we burn, and every bit of heat we release comes with a cost. What we expect from our energy will shape not just our way of life, but whether we can continue living as we do.
For centuries, human progress has been measured by how much energy we can harness. Fire provided us with warmth and food; coal powered our industries; oil and gas fueled mobility and modern life. Although each breakthrough has improved living standards, it has also intensified our planet's imbalance. The Earth has absorbed more heat than it can release, storing much of it in the oceans. This imbalance, subtle, cumulative, and relentless, is now altering the planet’s most basic boundary: its coastlines.
Rising sea levels are the clearest and most persistent sign of global warming. They demonstrate what happens when the Earth retains more energy than it can dissipate. Unlike storms or earthquakes that occur and pass, rising seas are a gradual disaster that worsens over time. This is not a single event, but an ongoing process shown by expanding oceans and melting ice.
Oceans have absorbed about 90 percent of the excess heat from greenhouse gases. As they warm, they expand. Melting ice sheets and glaciers add more water to the oceans. These changes cause sea levels to rise steadily worldwide, and this cannot be reversed in our lifetime or even in seven generations. Coastlines retreat, saltwater contaminates freshwater, buildings and roads deteriorate, and some communities may need to relocate. This disaster does not go away; it persists.
The economic impacts are overwhelming. Coastal cities, the centers of global trade, are becoming more vulnerable to flooding, storm surges, and erosion. The World Bank, OECD, and IPCC all agree on one grim point: the total financial cost of rising seas will surpass that of all other natural disasters combined. By mid-century, annual losses could reach hundreds of billions of dollars, growing into trillions by the end of the century. And these figures only include measurable costs. The loss of cultural heritage, ecological diversity, and human security cannot be assigned a dollar value.
So, we need to ask again: what do we truly want from our energy?
We have asked energy to provide us with wealth, comfort, and ease—and it has. But we haven't asked for balance or responsibility. We have acted as if energy is limitless and its waste doesn't matter. However, the laws of physics are unassailable. Every bit of energy trapped in the climate system appears somewhere, whether it is expanding the oceans, melting ice at the poles, or intensifying storms.
If our problem involves how energy moves and changes, our solution must also address this aspect. Cutting emissions is important, but not enough. We also need to deal with heat already trapped. This is where thermodynamic geoengineering, or TG, comes in. TG would transfer extra heat from the surface deep into the ocean, where it can remain safely hidden away for hundreds of years. This process could also generate electricity and help mitigate the energy imbalance that contributes to rising sea levels. In short, it turns waste heat into useful power.
This is not a fanciful idea. It demonstrates that energy can both create problems but also help solve them if used wisely. By following the laws of physics, TG allows us to take control of climate change. Instead of just reacting, we can begin to reverse the damage. TG produces clean energy while also cooling the planet.
This technology is not just a new invention; it transforms the meaning of what it is to use energy responsibly. It would align our needs with the health of the planet.
True progress isn't about using more energy but about using it wisely.
If adopted worldwide, TG could provide both economic and environmental benefits. By reducing sea level rise and lessening the severity of extreme weather, it could save trillions of dollars in damages. Its benefits outweigh the operational costs, as it produces energy that pays for itself—not only by generating electricity but also by preventing disasters.
But technology alone can't solve a moral issue. What we expect from energy reflects what we demand of ourselves. Will we continue choosing quick wins over long-term stability? Will we continue to use the air and oceans as dumping grounds? Or will we begin to see energy as a partnership between people and the planet?
Our future hinges on making the right choices. Rising seas are not just a coastal concern; they reveal how much our lifestyle has altered the planet’s balance. Each additional degree of heat and every rise in sea levels show how slow we have been to act. Systems naturally seek equilibrium. If we utilize our creativity to work in harmony with nature and harness the extra energy we've generated, rather than letting it harm us, we can restore balance. We have the tools and knowledge; now we just need the will to act.
Energy enabled our civilization and can help us rebuild as well. But we need to expect more from it, not just power, but true purpose.