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Climate Engineering: Avoiding Pandora's Box through Research and Governance

Author(s): Honegger M, Michaelowa A, Butzengeiger-Geyer S

Published: May, 2012

Publisher: FNI Climate Policy Perspectives

Tags: Policy, Governance, Research, Security

URL: http://www.fni.no/climatepolicyperspectives/FNICPP-05.html

Abstract: The gap between the emissions reductions required by the 2°C target and those actually undertaken is growing. Thus, climate engineering as an alternative proposition to mitigate climate change is expected to become increasingly relevant and likely to enter the mainstream discourse on climate mitigation within a decade. The term 'climate change mitigation' should be broadened to include all measures that limit the extent of climatic changes. Carbon dioxide removal is akin to classical biological and geological sequestration. Solar radiation management could mask - and thus in the broader sense mitigate - climate change as long as the intervention is continued. Given the high perceived attractiveness of solar radiation management due to costs two orders of magnitude less than those of equivalent emissions reductions, the level of risks must be established with a high degree of certainty, and accompanying measures need be in place, before the option can be seriously contemplated. In order to prevent potentially catastrophic unilateral deployment or military use, international governance is required to coordinate research in all disciplines concerned with climate engineering in the long term and make its results publicly accessible. A Special Report on Climate Engineering by the IPCC would provide an ideal basis for such international norm building concerning research, development and deployment. In order to avoid capture by interest groups and prevent premature irreversible decisions, climate engineering governance and monitoring under the UNFCCC could be based partly on approaches used in nuclear weapons control and terrorism prevention.


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