Topics
DeepSummary
The podcast episode features a discussion between Kevin Frazier and Duncan McLaren, a Climate Intervention Fellow at UCLA, about the controversial field of geoengineering, which involves techniques to intentionally modify the global climate, such as solar radiation management (SRM) and carbon removal methods. They explore the history, different types, potential risks, and ethical considerations surrounding geoengineering research and implementation.
McLaren explains the distinctions between geoengineering and climate intervention, and the debate around these terminologies. He delves into the challenges of deploying SRM techniques like stratospheric aerosol injection or marine cloud brightening, which aim to reflect sunlight and cool the planet, highlighting issues with coordination, uneven regional impacts, and the need for global governance.
The discussion also touches on the growing interest and funding for geoengineering research, the potential opportunity costs of diverting resources from emissions reduction efforts, and the public's mixed reactions to these controversial technologies. McLaren cautions against overly optimistic assumptions and emphasizes the need for transparency, ethical guidelines, and prioritizing emissions cuts and adaptation measures.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Geoengineering techniques like solar radiation management (SRM) and carbon removal aim to intentionally modify the global climate, but face significant scientific, technical, and ethical challenges.
- Different terminology like 'geoengineering' and 'climate intervention' reflects ongoing debates and perceptions around these controversial technologies.
- Deploying SRM techniques like stratospheric aerosol injection or marine cloud brightening on a global scale would require unprecedented international coordination and governance mechanisms.
- There are concerns that geoengineering research could divert resources and attention away from crucial emissions reduction and adaptation efforts.
- Public perception of geoengineering is mixed, with opposition more prevalent in developed countries and a more nuanced response in developing regions.
- Lack of a clear international governance framework for geoengineering experiments, although unilateral actions would likely face legal and political opposition.
- Need for transparency, ethical guidelines, and prioritizing emissions cuts and adaptation measures over geoengineering deployment.
- Growing interest and funding for geoengineering research, but concerns about overly optimistic assumptions and the potential for unintended consequences.
Top Episodes Quotes
“If we're spending our political capital and our time and our effort on negotiating how to do solar geoengineering, are we going to actually keep putting enough attention, enough pressure on accelerating emissions reduction, or are we going to end up making the situation worse?“ by Duncan McLaren
― This quote captures a key concern about geoengineering research potentially diverting resources and attention away from crucial emissions reduction efforts, which could exacerbate the climate crisis.“There's been a recent study that conducted surveys and focus groups in 20 odd countries around the world, and what they found was very little knowledge of geoengineering to begin with. But generally, certainly as far as the solar geoengineering approaches were concerned, opposition outweighing support across the rich world, and a more balanced, balanced, maybe not the right word, but a less clear cut result across the global south.“ by Duncan McLaren
― This quote highlights the public's lack of awareness and mixed reactions to geoengineering, with opposition more prevalent in developed countries and a more nuanced response in developing regions.“The most likely candidate in that analysis is the USA. With the power and reach of USA military bases around the world. To be able to spread these aerosols in a global fashion, I mean, this is delving into the more detailed science of it. But to do what's called a balanced form of SaI, stratospheric aerosol injection, one would need to be able to inject aerosols both in the northern hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere at the right season, at the right time.“ by Duncan McLaren
― This quote highlights the potential for a global power like the USA to have the capability and infrastructure to deploy geoengineering techniques like stratospheric aerosol injection on a global scale, emphasizing the logistical challenges involved.“So essentially, there is no existing governance regime, there are a whole host of norms of international law that would, I think, would encourage the us government to clamp down on you and stop you. But I can't say that you would be up in court and facing fines or imprisonment or whatever, should you take this into your own hands.“ by Duncan McLaren
― This quote addresses the lack of a clear international governance framework regulating geoengineering experiments, while acknowledging that unilateral actions by individuals or groups would likely face legal and political opposition from governments.
Chapter Details
Entities
Person
Company
Organization
Product
Project
Episode Information
The Lawfare Podcast
The Lawfare Institute
9/4/24
Duncan McLaren, Climate Intervention Fellow in Environmental Law and Policy at UCLA, joins Kevin Frazier, a Tarbell Fellow at Lawfare, to discuss geoengineering in light of a recent New York Times article detailing prior efforts to conduct climate interventions, namely the SCoPEx project. This conversation explores the history of geoengineering, different geoengineering techniques, and the opportunity costs associated with further research in the field.
To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/c/trumptrials.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Discover More, Learn Faster — Deep Digest
Supercharge your learning with Deep Digest, your personalized podcast summaries. Each morning, wake up to bite-sized insights from your favorite shows, curated just for you, right in your inbox. Plus, discover unexpected gems with our sprinkle of related topics. Stay ahead effortlessly.
