"Abstract details

Climate Engineering Research Trends – Results from an Expert Survey

K. Beyerl (1) ; T. Wiertz, (1)
(1) Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V., Potsdam, Germany

Abstract content

As international climate change mitigation efforts are progressing relatively slowly, climate engineering (CE) has been controversially discussed for several years now and often viewed with scepticism. In August 2014, the so far largest transdisciplinary conference on climate engineering CEC14 took place in Berlin, and assembled over 350 participants from 40 countries who discussed a multitude of questions associated with technical interventions in the climate system. More than one third of this expert group participated in a subsequent online survey about future research trends in CE. The presentation will summarize the outcomes of this survey and thereby give an overview of the current state and diversity of the CE debate, motivations to engage with the topic and expected future research trends. Some general results are summarized below. In the talk, the data will be presented in more detail and with regard to specific sample subgroups and technologies as each technological approach raises specific challenges.

1. Working backgrounds, motivations, hopes and concerns with regard to CE research. The vast majority of respondents named countries in Europe or North America to be their country of origin and current office location. Despite the global relevance of the topic and various attempts to increase geographic representation, scientific expertise and awareness remains very much centred in the Global North. Academic backgrounds of people working on CE cover various aspects of natural science, as well as social sciences and humanities. Social scientists seem to work more broadly on the concept of CE, whereas natural scientists focus more on specific technologies. Motivations to engage with CE are manifold, such as 1) concern about climate change and pessimism about mitigation activities, 2) a search for options to counter climate change, 3) concern about CE consequences, 4) scientific interest in the topic reaching from modelling and impact assessment to governance and policy implications, philosophical questions of decision making, to reach a robust scientific footing for decision making. Throughout the survey, participants highlighted concerns about various risks of CE technologies.

2. Expected trends in CE research. Despite the widely shared opinion that methods to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (CDR) would be safer and should be researched, many of the conference participants seem to expect that research will focus on solar radiation management (SRM) in the future although they see many risks associated with SRM-techniques. Technologies that should be researched most according to the participants were for CDR: (Bioenergy with) Carbon Capture and Storage, and Direct Air Capture; and for SRM: Stratospheric Aerosol Injections and Marine Cloud Brightening. CDR techniques are seen as currently not effective enough, too slow and too expensive. Asked for which aspects of research should get more attention, answers differed for CDR and SRM in the way that for CDR participants identified technical research and development and economics among the main aspects; for SRM, climate effects, governance and ethics where highlighted; environmental effects and impact assessment scored high for both approaches.

3. Opinions about Field Research and Governance. Whereas several participants were in favour of no field research at all, others expected field tests for CDR and/or SRM. However, the focus of research differed: For CDR, field tests were mainly suggested to test feasibility, efficiency, safety, impacts, solutions for carbon storage and recycling. For SRM, the main questions were related to atmospheric physics and chemistry, specifics of particles, engineering tests, delivery technology, impact assessment and critical factors. With regard to governance that should be in place before field testing, opinions differed from no governance and that existing governance is sufficient, to the need for an international convention or legal framework and a global body, as well as the application of national laws. Furthermore, environmental and social impact assessments (EAI and SIA) were suggested and the need for public participation in decision making and ensuring transparency was highlighted.

On a general note, most survey participants hope that CE won’t be necessary at all and emphasized that climate change mitigation should be heavily intensified."
http://www.commonfuture-paris2015.o...tm?Zoom=bca704b28724bff6a5fb3eb8db55392e

From the website:

Our Common Future Under Climate Change
International Scientific Conference
7-10 JULY 2015 Paris, France