Climate Intervention to Cool a Warming Planet
Can science fix climate change? Is it ethical?

Climate change is occurring and its impacts on ecosystems, humans, and the economy are growing.  Yet, 30 years of international negotiations have thus far failed to address climate change through policy and mitigation in a way that will avert profound consequences. This reality is leading to the consideration of climate intervention – deliberate, large-scale intervention in the climate system designed to counter global warming or offset some of its effects. Climate intervention could well be in our collective future, especially as the impacts of climate change become more severe and climate intervention technologies are within reach.

Our April 5th panel will focus on and discuss the results of a recent report produced by the U.S. National Research Council on “Solar Radiation Management” – a specific form of climate intervention that would increase the reflectivity of the atmosphere, thereby decreasing the amount of solar energy in the Earth system and cooling the planet. Our panelists will discuss scientific, technical, governance and ethical issues surrounding this controversial concept.

Panelists:

Jim Hurrell, Professor and Scott Presidential Chair in Environmental Science and Engineering
Ken Shockley, Professor and Holmes Rolston III Chair in Environmental Ethics and Philosophy

Moderated by Peter Backlund, Associate Director, School of Global Environmental Sustainability