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Show Notes
What is geoengineering, and could it really help us solve the climate crisis? The sixth episode of Not Cool features Dr. Alan Robock, meteorologist and climate scientist, on types of geoengineering solutions, the benefits and risks of geoengineering, and the likelihood that we may need to implement such technology. He also discusses a range of other solutions, including economic and policy reforms, shifts within the energy sector, and the type of leadership that might make these transformations possible.
Topics discussed include:
- Types of geoengineering, including carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management
- Current geoengineering capabilities
- The Year Without a Summer
- The termination problem
- Feasibility of geoengineering solutions
- Social cost of carbon
- Fossil fuel industry
- Renewable energy solutions and economic accessibility
- Biggest risks of stratospheric geoengineering
Publications discussed include:
- Florida’s Utilities Keep Homeowners From Making the Most of Solar Power, The New York Times (2019)
- Climate Intervention Reports, National Academy of Sciences (2015)
- Albedo enhancement by stratospheric sulfur injection: More research needed, Alan Robock (2016), includes benefits and risks of geoengineering.
We have to move to stop emitting carbon dioxide, and the question is: are the impacts of global warming going to be so serious that we might want to use this temporary thing, — I liken it to a tourniquet — for a while before we get there, before we can solve the problem, before we can stop the bleeding?
~ Alan Robock
