Event details here:
  http://www.iom3.org/events/geo-engineering-challenges-and-global-impacts

  I fear that the potential side-effects of geoengineering (especially use of stratospheric aerosols) will be overstated, as they generally are by the media.  So I sincerely hope Dr Gadian and Dr Watson will not understate the potentially short-term global impact from not geoengineering:

    a.. impact of Arctic warming (esp. methane release and Greenland ice sheet disintegration) if solar radiation management (SRM) is not used to cool the Arctic;

    b.. impact of increased CO2 (esp. global warming and ocean acidification) if CO2 air capture is not used to reduce its level below 350 ppm.

  BTW, I've just heard from Professor Shepherd that the Royal Society study on geoengineering is due out on Sept 1st, but will not include anything about using SRM specifically to cool the Arctic.

  Cheers from Chiswick,

  John

  ---

  The Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry and The Royal Academy of
  Engineering invite you to attend a seminar entitled:

  Geo-engineering: Challenges and global impacts

  To be held at Portcullis House, the House of Commons
  15 July 2009
  Tea and coffee at 6:00pm.
  The seminar will commence at 6.30pm and will be followed by refreshments at 8.15pm.

  The speakers at the seminar will be:
  Dr Alan Gadian, University of Leeds
  Talk: Cloud albedo modification
  Dr Dan Lunt, University of Bristol
  Talk: Sunshade engineering
  Prof. Andrew Watson, University of East Anglia
  Talk: Ocean fertilisation
  Prof. Steve Rayner, University of Oxford
  Talk: Social and ethical implications of geo-engineering
  Chair
  Dr Brian Iddon MP, the House of Commons

  Geo-engineering offers the potential to protect the Earth's ecosphere from the worst effects
  of climate change. This protection may only be temporary and, in some cases, mask the
  effects of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions rather than tackling the root cause.

  Nevertheless, with growing doubt as to the ability, or willingness, of world economies to
  meet the stringent cuts in emissions required, geo-engineering could become politically
  attractive to buy more time for those deep cuts to be made.

  This seminar will discuss a number of imaginative technologies that have been suggested to
  modify the Earth's albedo or sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, which could be
  sufficient to offset, in part, the effect of greenhouse gas emissions. These include dispersing
  sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere to mimic global dimming, using a swarm of picosatellites
  in space to reflect sunlight, and ocean fertilisation to encourage the growth of
  marine microorganisms which can capture carbon dioxide. The seminar will explore whether
  these techniques will have any unintended consequences (e.g. releasing sulphate aerosols
  into the atmosphere may cause droughts), how they need to be developed and analysed for
  risk potential, and whether altering the Earth's climate system will ever be socially
  acceptable. The scale of the interventions required will also be of concern as well as the full
  life-cycle costs of proposals.

  This seminar is the latest in a series demonstrating key routes by which contemporary
  physics, chemistry and engineering will affect life in the 21st century.

  The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice,
  understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of over 36 000
  and is a leading communicator of physics-related science to all audiences, from specialists
  through to government and the general public. Its publishing company, IOP Publishing, is a
  world leader in scientific publishing and the electronic dissemination of physics.

  The Royal Society of Chemistry is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the
  chemical sciences. Supported by a worldwide network of members and an international
  publishing business, our activities span education, conferences, science policy and the
  promotion of chemistry to the public.

  The Royal Academy of Engineering is Britain's national academy for engineering, bringing
  together the country's most eminent engineers from all disciplines to promote excellence in
  the science, art and practice of engineering. Its strategic priorities are to enhance the UK's
  engineering capabilities, to celebrate excellence and inspire the next generation, and to
  lead debate by guiding informed thinking and influencing public policy.

  ---

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