Geoengineering: re-making climate for profit or humanitarian intervention?

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Climate science
• Social science

Background:

• Climate engineering (geoengineering) proposes large-scale interventions to reduce global temperatures.
• Methods include solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal.
• Geoengineering is criticized as a 'technofix' that could extend the lifespan of fossil-fuel dependent systems.

Observation:

• A critical perspective views geoengineering as a strategy to maintain the stability of current production systems.
• The motivations behind geoengineering research and implementation are crucial.
• The chosen geoengineering techniques will shape future ecologies.

Findings:

• Geoengineering research and implementation are influenced by funding and underlying rationales.
• These rationales determine which geoengineering techniques are prioritized.
• The logic guiding geoengineering could have long-term impacts on social ecologies.

Implications:

• Exploring geoengineering through humanitarian agendas and international development institutions is a potential alternative.
• Focusing on vulnerable populations can guide the development of equitable climate interventions.
• Understanding the motivations and logic of geoengineering is key to shaping a sustainable future.