Disaggregating the Governance Dimensions of Solar Geoengineering

[Geoengineering News]

https://media.rff.org/documents/LANGSHAW_POWER_paper.pdf

Authors

Burgess Langshaw Power

Abstract

Recent discussions of the governance of solar geoengineering have emphasized the potential of a polycentric architecture. Specifically, recent contributions have recognized the importance of both international, top-down, structures, and the important role of national and potential sub-national governance entities that reflect diverse, bottom-up perspectives. Viewing solar geoengineering governance through a multi-level lens requires consideration of which governance tasks may be addressed at various levels, and whether formal or informal mechanisms hold utility in addressing these problems. This in turn requires attention be paid to disaggregating governance functions and matching those functions to appropriate governance levels. By disaggregating the key characteristics of governance concern, it may be possible to implement many smaller regulatory mechanisms which can be integrated into a globally effective policy regime, as anticipated under polycentric approaches. This paper is a first step towards mapping key characteristics of concern for the governance of solar geoengineering, and the relevant levels and type of governance institution, thereby developing the first components of a polycentric framework for the governance of solar geoengineering.

Source: RFF