| SOLAR GEOENGINEERING WEEKLY SUMMARY (14 OCTOBER - 20 OCTOBER 2024) Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly updates on Solar Geoengineering:
RESEARCH PAPERSMagistro, B., Debnath, R., Ebanks, D., Wennberg, P., & Alvarez, R. M. (2024). Political ideology and views toward solar geoengineering in the United States. Abstract Political polarization remains a significant barrier to effective climate action in the United States. Conservatives often express skepticism toward climate change policies that emphasize government intervention and regulation, while liberals are more supportive of these efforts. Solar geoengineering (SG), an emerging technology proposed to cool the Earth's atmosphere, offers an approach that could transcend entrenched ideological divides. SG has not yet been widely framed in partisan terms, and its potential as a technological solution may appeal to conservatives. This study examines how familiarity with SG is correlated with public attitudes toward climate change. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,109 American voters, we find that greater familiarity with SG is associated with reduced political polarization on key issues such as support for SG, concerns about its risks, and preferred climate strategies. Our findings suggest that increased awareness of SG could foster bipartisan engagement on climate policy, thereby reducing the ideological divide.
Hussain, A., Khan, M. A., & Shoaib, M. (2024). Impacts of Solar Geoengineering on Malaria Transmission in South Asia. Authorea Preprints. Abstract Malaria is a disease that has a significant influence on public health and affects individuals all over the Global South. Global warming affects the disease’s distribution, and the Solar Geoengineering (SG) is an interim solution to combat global warming, which involves scattering back a tiny fraction of the incoming sunlight. This study explores the projected spatio-temporal patterns of malaria distribution using Entomological Inoculation Rate (EIR) and Length of Transmission Season (LTS) as quantitative indicators of malaria transmission under G6sulfur scenario of SG in seven of the most climate vulnerable countries of South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Nepal, and Pakistan). Furthermore, for comparative analysis, future projections of EIR and LTS are studied without SG under a Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenario (SSP585). The result of a dynamical malaria model indicates that, under the SG G6sulfur scenario, the spatial distribution patterns of EIR depict an overall decrease in malaria distribution during the period of 2020–2090, as compared to SSP585 scenario, over South Asia. Moreover, LTS of disease will gradually be shortened during the same time scale as in G6sulfur scenario. Regionally, spatial distribution of malaria over Bangladesh, India and Pakistan is projected to experience a significant decline. While Afghanistan, Iran, and Nepal show less drastic but still a notable decrease in EIR.
Ginzky, H., & Oschlies, A. Effective control mechanisms of research on climate engineering techniques for the public good–the London Protocol regulatory approach as a role model. Frontiers in Climate, 6, 1474993. Abstract Climate engineering, including Carbon Dioxide Removal and Solar Radiation Modification techniques, increasingly gets into the public discussion on effective climate change policies. As most of these techniques are still in their infancy, the critical question arises whether and how in situ research and development should be controlled and governed by competent governmental authorities. In this context, public funding may serve as a pivotal factor alongside appropriate regulatory approaches and may itself also be regulated by legal mechanisms. We here argue that the London Protocol, that includes regulation of research into marine geoengineering, is a promising role model also for regulating other climate engineering approaches, including -if ever appropriate-solar radiation modification. We propose to consider the London Protocol as a role model for governance schemes to be developed for emerging research and possible deployment efforts regarding climate engineering.
Diao, C., Keys, P., Bell, C. M., Barnes, E. A., & Hurrell, J. W. (2024). A model study exploring the decision loop between unilateral stratospheric aerosol injection scenario design and Earth system simulations. Abstract Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is being discussed as a possible approach to reduce future global warming in addition to emission cuts, and various scenarios and Earth system model (ESM) experiments have been developed to explore its effectiveness and risks. However, given the complicated geopolitical, economic, and strategic considerations among countries, global cooperation in SAI deployment will be challenging. Alternatively, unilateral SAI deployment has been highlighted as an important research topic but is still less explored in scenario design and ESM studies. Inspired by the game theory model introduced by Bell and Keys (2023) and their newly developed framework of identifying geopolitically plausible SAI initiator(s), this paper builds a framework for integrating unilateral SAI scenario design, geopolitical game theory, ESM simulation, and climate analyses into one decision loop. Using the decision loop, we design and simulate a geopolitically plausible scenario of the initiation of unilateral SAI using CESM, and explore two independent plausible unilateral SAI reaction scenarios following the climate storylines under the initiator scenario. Our work demonstrates an approach to explore the complex feedback loop between unilateral SAI deployment scenarios and the simulation of the subsequent climate storylines.
Hussain, A., Khan, M. A., & Sipra, H. (2024). Impacts of Solar Geoengineering on Projected Climate of South Asia. Authorea Preprints. Abstract The Solar Geoengineering (SG) is an interim solution to combat global warming, which involves scattering back a tiny fraction of the incoming sunlight. Hence, SG and its potential impacts are important to study for the identification of changing weather patterns over regions of climate vulnerable South Asia. This study explores the projected spatio-temporal patterns of two meteorological parameters, temperature, and precipitation, under SG numerical experiment (stratospheric aerosol injection), relative to projected climate change. Furthermore, future projections of same meteorological parameters without SG under a representative concentration pathway (RCP 4.5) will also be studied for comparative analysis. Offsetting climate parameters are associated with multiple risk factors. Thus, Both SG and non-SG scenarios will be studied for the future time period. The results indicate that the temperature reduces by -0.62 °C under the SG G4 scenario and spatial distribution patterns of temperature also depicts an overall cooling effects during the G4 implementation (2020-2029) and continuation (2030-2069) phase. Moreover, on a regional scale, a cold bias (less severe) is projected as compared to projected climate under RCP 4.5. Our findings show that, precipitation is also projected to be decreased by -0.02 mmday-1. Dry bias pattern is projected during implementation phase only. The G4 based SG continuation and termination (2070-2090) phases depict no drastic change in precipitation over South Asia.
WEB POSTSThe moral hazard argument against geoengineering makes no sense (One Percent Brighter)  One Percent BrighterCooling the earth directly by pumping sea-salt particles into marine clouds (and other such techniques) is dangerous because it would take all the urgency off of efforts to decarbonize. Once temperatures are under control, polluters would take this as carte blanche to keep dumping more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere rather than cleaning up … 4 days ago · 6 likes · 2 comments · Quico Toro Milton: Termination Shock Now (One Percent Brighter) One Percent Brighter Look through press coverage of what’s driving monster storms like Hurricane Milton, and you’ll see lots of handwringing about climate change. What you won’t see is any mention of the maritime shipping industry… 12 days ago · 15 likes · 15 comments · Quico Toro
JOB OPPORTUNITY"The University of Chicago is building a substantial research cluster (including an anticipated ten new faculty lines) on the science, technology, and policy of climate systems engineering. The goal of the Climate Systems Engineering initiative (CSEi) is to advance understanding of the benefits, risks, and governance of technologies that might reduce the impacts of accumulated greenhouse gases, and to educate students who will face the challenges of managing industrial civilization on a fragile planet. CSEi’s topical scope includes open-system carbon removal such as enhanced weathering, solar geoengineering, and interventions to limit loss of glacial ice; and we welcome research from across fields including the sciences, humanities, social sciences, public policy, and law."
PODCASTSSolar Radiation Management's Risks and Opportunities | Climate on the Edge | Solar Radiation Management's Risks and Opportunities Climate on the Edge 1:16:28 |
"In this episode I explore the controversial topic of solar geoengineering with Dr. Holly Jean Buck, and Dr. Will Burns, two of the most thorough and interesting thinkers out there when it comes to the topic. Specifically they talk me through the question of “should we ban SRM research”. There’s a lot these two experts disagree on about SRM, and their back and forth really expanded my thinking on the topic. Together, we break down what SRM is, how it might work, and the different approaches within SRM, such as stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening. This episode provides a nuanced look at SRM as part of the climate action toolkit, I hope it helps you think critically about the role it might play, as it did for me.”
YOUTUBE VIDEOSSolar Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium 13 (Prof. Govindasamy Bala & Dr. Kelsey Roberts) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks "Solar Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium 13 Prof. Govindasamy Bala (Indian Institute of Science, India) : "Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering and Tropical Monsoon Rainfall" Dr. Kelsey Roberts (Louisiana State University, USA) : "Towards Estimating Marine Ecosystem Impacts of Climate Intervention"
Solar Geoengineering: Promise or Peril for Climate Change? | Edu now. "In this episode, we dive into the controversial world of solar radiation modification (SRM), also known as solar geoengineering, as a potential tool to combat climate change. Drawing on insights from Janos Pasztor's article, we explore the science behind SRM and its potential to cool the planet. But with great power comes great responsibility—SRM raises critical ethical, environmental, and governance challenges. Could unchecked use of this technology worsen global inequalities or destabilize international relations? Join us as we discuss the urgent need for international collaboration and open dialogue to responsibly navigate the future of solar geoengineering."
SPF 1000: Modifying Solar Radiation SOSV CLIMATE TECH SUMMIT 2024 | SOSV "Given that global temperatures have hit record highs 13 months in a row, it’s reasonable to ask whether decarbonization can move fast enough. What if extreme weather events produce huge death tolls? One response could be to pump sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to cool the planet by reflecting the sun’s energy away from earth. Controversial in the extreme, yes, but more than ever the object of well-funded research. Our panel looks at the state of the debate over this extreme climate tech. The speakers are David Keith (University of Chicago) Ryan Orbuch (Lowercarbon Capital) and Janos Pasztor (independent consultant.).The moderator is Cat Clifford, who is a correspondent at Cipher."
How to Cover Geoengineering | Mongabay Webinars | Mongabay "As the climate crisis worsens, scientists and policymakers are increasingly considering geoengineering concepts as a potential solution. However, deploying or researching technology, like solar geoengineering, remains highly controversial, with scientists on either end of the divide. In this Mongabay webinar, journalists will learn how to better cover solar geoengineering, while exploring the policy, research, and ethical questions surrounding it."
Pasztor, Parson and Baiman Healthy Planet Action Coalition | Healthy Planet Action Coalition "Dr Ted Parson, Professor of Environmental Law and Faculty Director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has led and served on multiple advisory committees for the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and other national and international bodies. His work was influential in establishing the World Commission on Climate Overshoot, for which he serves as a senior advisor. He was formerly Joseph L. Sax Collegiate Professor of Law and Professor of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan, and spent twelve years on the faculty of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Mr Janos Pasztor was most recently Executive Director of the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G). Before that he served as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change, and Senior Advisor to the UN Secretary-General. Earlier, he held various positions inter alia at the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and WWF International. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Ron Baiman is an HPAC Co-Founder and member of the Steering Circle and a retired professor of Economics long time "radical" or progressive economist."
UPCOMING EVENTS1: On the bright side: new developments in Marine Cloud Brightening technology | 16 October 20242: Field trials for a cooler planet: sea, sky and ice | 23 October 20243: Ethics and Governance (title TBA) | 06 November 20244: Good COP, Bad COP: a post-COP29 assessment | 27 November 2024
Solar Geoengineering Events Calendar | |
