Geoengineering - Cure or Malpractice?

COLLOQUIUM ON GEOENGINEERING
JUNE 3, 2009

The Kiel Earth Institute hosted an international colloquium on geoengineering, entitled “Geoengineering – Cure or Malpractice?” on June 3, 2009. Within broad stake Prof. Ralph Keeling from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego (US), Prof. Steve Rayner from Said Business School, University of Oxford (UK) and Prof. Dr. Konrad Ott from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald (Germany) presented and discussed on the colloquium the concept of geoengineering, its technical options, as well as ethical, economic, and political aspects of geoengineering the earth system. The closing lively panel discussion was added by Prof. Proelß, professor for public law at the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel.

 

 

 

Agenda

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Background

It is widely accepted that climate change is both real and dangerous to human needs and the earth’s habitability. Geoengineering is one highly discussed proposed answer to global warming.
Geoengineering means an intentional modification of the earth system by technological intervention to counteract the negative influence of human activities on the climate system. Examples of geoengineering proposals are shielding the earth from sunlight and scrubbing the atmosphere of CO₂.
Geoengineering is certainly not the preferred solution to climate change. It is nevertheless important for scientists to discuss and understand geoengineering options in case CO₂ mitigation strategies fail and very damaging climate changes are looming. The possibility that the climate system could reach so called tipping points with uncontrollable consequences might demand rapid and effective measures.
Geoengineering is not without controversy, and many questions demand an answer.
Critics state that geoengineering only tries to cure the symptoms of climate change, and not its causes. They argue that considering geoengineering options could distract societies from reducing greenhouse gas emissions aggressively. Furthermore, some doubt whether uncertain predictions about the impact of climate change and our limited knowledge of the earth system provide a reliable basis for irreversible geoengineering activities.
Additional open questions are: What are the costs of geoengineering, of its side effects, failure possibilities, and of not being prepared for emergency actions if dramatic climate change occurs? Are there winners and losers of different geoengineering technologies? How should potential implementation of geoengineering projects be governed?
Many scientists stress that much more internationally coordinated research is needed before geoengineering can be considered as an option against global warming.