Controlling the Global Thermostat
David Keith discusses the promises and perils inherent in geoengineering solutions to climate change
The idea that humans might be able to engineer their way out of global climate change has been around for a long time.
When a report landed on President Lyndon Johnson’s desk in 1965 warning of the “deleterious effect” of carbon dioxide emissions, its principle recommendation was to confront the problem by spreading reflective particles in the sky over the Pacific Ocean to reflect away sunlight before it entered the atmosphere — a rudimentary example of a concept now referred to as Solar Radiation Management (SRM.)
While climate science has advanced by leaps and bounds in the subsequent half century, the study of SRM as part of the solution to the problem has languished due to significant concerns over its unintended side effects.
But now that may be changing.
In this episode of PolicyCast, Professor David Keith, a long time advocate for deeper research into climate engineering solutions, explains how the field has evolved over the last decade and delves into the many, complex questions it presents — scientific, moral, and even psychological.
HKS PolicyCast is the official podcast of Harvard Kennedy School, featuring 4weekly interviews with scholars and leading practitioners in public policy, leadership, and international affairs. It is hosted by filmmaker, writer, and policy wonk Matt Cadwallader.
