Geoengineering: a Technofix for the Climate?

During this double lecture, two speakers will explore the theme of geoengineering from different perspectives. Each talk lasts approximately 30 minutes. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion with the audience.

Solar Radiation Modification: Cool Plan or Megalomania?
By Claudia Wieners, PhD, Assistant Professor, Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht University

The climate is warming. Can we cool the earth by reflecting a percentage of sunlight back into space? Scientists have proposed several Solar Radiation Modification methods. What are the effects on the climate? Can we fully understand the complex consequences? Would it not be better to focus on reducing CO₂, or could this be a valuable addition?

Captured Futures: Producing the Inevitability of Geoengineering?
By Jeroen Oomen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Urban Futures Studio, Utrecht University

The most important questions about geoengineering are political ones. What would decision-making about these technologies look like? Could they lead to war and chaos? Could we ever have just and wise governance of these invasive technologies? And, perhaps most importantly, what is the road to their deployment. Will they distract from mitigation? Will they be made to be inevitable?