In my blog, I set out to critically analyse the many components of
geoengineering: their effectiveness, feasibility and safety aspects. I expected
all of my burning questions to be answered – if anything, the process has made
me question even more.
I felt it was unfair to tar the entire discipline of geoengineering with
one brush, and on the whole I do think some geoengineering techniques are
safer, more feasible and more practical than others. You, the readers, voted
more in favour of CDR techniques, e.g. carbon capture & storage, than
riskier SRM techniques, e.g. sulphate aerosols. Personally, I also believe CDR
schemes are less risky, as well as addressing the problem of rising atmospheric CO2.
Yes, geoengineering is risky, and
some techniques are relatively riskier than others. However, I have also learnt
that for all of our downfalls, the human race is capable of ‘fixing’ our
shortcomings. I feel that there is SOMETHING – an undiscovered geoengineering
idea, or a modification of an existing one – that must have potential. Maybe
not Star Trek style space deflectors – but something. Realistically, every day
that passes without significant climate change action is a step closer to
geoengineering.
Instead of ruling it out as an option, I think its important that we
continue to encourage holistic geoengineering research. For example, linking
geoengineering to the planetary boundaries concept is very useful. And there
are aspects that do need to be critically discussed and questioned: such as
governance, ethical limitations and inequities.
Factors
geoengineering must take into account:
1) Climate effects
(e.g. temperature, precipitation, hydrology, sea ice) of different techniques
across different spatio-temporal scales
2) Human impacts
(e.g. health, agricultural, drought/flooding)
3) Ecological
impacts
4) Biogeochemical
cycle impact (e.g. N, P, C, Si)
Questions geoengineering must answer:
1) How can geoengineering
risk be managed?
2) How can
geoengineering be ethically deployed & governed?
3) How can
geoengineering uncertainty be reduced?
I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and found it helpful – I have enjoyed
this learning process. Thank you 😊