Reflecting Sunlight Recommendations for Solar Geoengineering Research and Research Governance (2021) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-18
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Concerns that these three options together are not being pursued at the level or pace needed to avoid the worst consequences of climate change -- or that even if vigorously pursued will not be sufficient to avoid the worst consequences -- have led some to suggest the value of exploring additional response strategies. This includes solar geoengineering (SG)
|
From page 2... ...
The available research indicates that SG could reduce surface temperatures and potentially ameliorate some risks posed by climate change (e.g., to avoid crossing critical climate "tipping points"; to reduce harmful impacts of weather extremes)
|
From page 3... ...
, and Cirrus Cloud Thinning (CCT)
|
From page 4... ...
, as well as a review of the literature and extensive deliberations among the authoring committee. CURRENT LANDSCAPE FOR SOLAR GEOENGINEERING RESEARCH AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE Understanding of some important questions about SG has advanced as a result of research conducted to date, but, at present, this state of understanding remains limited.
|
From page 5... ...
THE CONTEXT AND KEY CONSIDERATION FOR SOLAR GEOENGINEERING RESEARCH A range of intertwined scientific, societal, and governance issues makes the SG decision space particularly complex, similar in some respects to other emerging technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, robotics, or autonomous vehicles)
|
From page 6... ...
Such knowledge could be time-critical for policy makers especially if there were intense public or political pressure for a dramatic climate action, or if SG were deployed in the absence of broad international cooperation and safeguards. The pursuit of an SG research program also brings potential risks -- for instance, a program could be used as a rationale to undermine efforts to reduce GHG emissions, to legitimize SG as a response to climate change, or to create a community invested in moving toward deployment.
|
From page 7... ...
PROPOSED FRAMEWORK AND APPROACH FOR SOLAR GEOENGINEERING RESEARCH AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE An organized research program can help build the foundation of scientific insights and information that will help decision makers and stakeholders faced with choices about possible future implementation of SG. It is important, however, that such a program ensures that the information developed is as robust as possible, with significant attention to meaningful inclusivity and strong governance strategies.
|
From page 8... ...
federal government should establish -- in coordination with other countries -- a transdisciplinary, solar geoengineering research program. This program should be a minor part of the overall U.S.
|
From page 9... ...
, charged with coordinating federal global change research across the federal science agencies, is the most logical entity for orchestrating an SG research program.
|
From page 10... ...
. ROBUST GOVERNANCE FOR SOLAR GEOENGINEERING RESEARCH The goals of research governance include advancing and coordinating appropriate research, facilitating inclusive and equitable public and stakeholder engagement, and addressing physical risks together with social, ethical, and legal concerns.
|
From page 11... ...
Summary TABLE S.1 Governance Mechanisms Discussed in This Report Governance Mechanism Goals/Principles Served Relevant Actor(s) Discussed in the by This Mechanism Recommendations Report code of conduct responsible science, 5.1a, 5.1b, 5.1c researchers, funders effective practices of research, national institutions registry transparency, 5.1d, 5.1e, 5.1p nations, researchers, funders information sharing of research, scientific publishers, appropriate international body data sharing transparency, 5.1j, 51.k researchers, funders of information sharing research, publishers assessments and reviews risk assessment, impact 5.1f, 5.1g, 5.1h, 5.1o nations, funders of assessment, strengthen research, appropriate UN science, transparency, body or bodies public engagement permitting transparency, oversight 5.1i nations intellectual property information sharing 5.1l researchers participation and inclusivity, public 5.1m, 5.1n, 5.1t, individuals, institutions, stakeholder engagement engagement, 5.1u nations, researchers, funders transparency of research, appropriate international and regional governance bodies international cooperation coordination of 5.1q funders of research, and co-development on research, joint research researchers research teams projects/programs international cooperation coordination of 5.1r science agencies among national scientific research, information agencies sharing, joint research projects/programs international information coordination of 5.1s coalition of state and nonsharing and cooperation on research, information state actors SG research and research sharing, transparency, governance participation, and public engagement international anticipatory risk assessment, 5.1v UN body or other governance expert effective practices, international institution committee conflict resolution 11
|
From page 12... ...
Governance mechanisms and principles developed domestically can help inform policy makers developing international architectures; in turn, international governance can help reinforce domestic efforts and create expectations of stronger domestic enforcement. Unless and until robust international research governance emerges, it is incumbent on any country where SG research is being conducted to create mechanisms and institutions to govern this work.
|
From page 13... ...
Important elements of research governance include a research code of conduct, a public registry for research, regular program assessment and review processes, permitting systems for outdoor experiments, guidance on intellectual property, inclusive public and stakeholder engagement processes, mechanisms for advancing international information sharing and collaboration (within research teams and among national scientific agencies) , and establishment of an expert committee to advance discussions about international governance needs and strategies.
|
From page 14... ...
The research priorities range from computer modeling and laboratory and field studies to quantitative and qualitative social science investigations -- and thus the nature of the steps forward differ accordingly. INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK CONTEXT AND GOALS FOR SG RESEARCH • Program Development Pathways • Future Conditions • Integrated Decision Analysis • Capacity Building IMPACTS AND TECHNICAL SOCIAL DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS • Atmospheric Processes • Public Perceptions and Engagement • Climate Response • Political and Economic Dynamics • Other Impacts • Governance • Monitoring and Attribution • Ethics • Technology Development and Assessment FIGURE S.3 Three broad categories and 13 research clusters in the proposed research agenda.
|
From page 15... ...
Under these broad categories, the following are recommended as key research clusters to pursue: Context and Goals for SG Research • Program Development Pathways. Designing an SG research program to maximize the prospects for broadly beneficial outcomes.
|
From page 16... ...
It is the committee's judgment that, subject to appropriate governance and oversight, outdoor experimentation could feasibly be pursued in a balanced manner that is sufficient in scale to acquire critical observations not available by other means but that is small enough in scale to limit impacts. The committee considered how to set outdoor experimentation thresholds that address both the impacts of the potential perturbation on the climate and the impacts of the test materials on the environment.
|
From page 17... ...
In addition to funding research itself, support is needed for implementing robust research governance at national and international scales and for public engagement. The committee suggests as a general rule of thumb that these governance and engagement efforts be supported at approximately 20 percent of the level of the total research program support -- an investment that would scale with the overall size of the research program.
|
From page 18... ...
It will require a research program and culture without bias or advocacy for any particular outcome, with equal consideration of the factors that make SG either an unattractive or an attractive option. Designing such a program will require a deep commitment to exploring the full range of possible effects, avoiding the temptation to classify indirect effects as secondary or unimportant, and managing adaptively so that the program is shaped by ongoing discoveries.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.