Title : Why developing a governance for SRM (Solar Radiation Management) is a matter of urgency
Abstract:
The presentation will provide the following reasons why developing governance for SRM (Solar Radiation Management) is a matter of urgency. It will begin by examining facts related to climate change, including the increase in global warming, global sea level, loss and damage, the social cost of carbon, and global greenhouse gas emissions, along with a better understanding of tipping points. It will then discuss what climate scenarios can tell us, including the limits of mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as indicated by scenarios, the limits of DAC (Direct Air Capture of CO₂ combined with carbon storage), an analysis of current Nationally Determined Contributions, commitments to achieve net-zero carbon, and the limits of adaptation.
The presentation will also examine what is currently known about SRM, with a particular focus on Stratospheric Aerosol Injection. This will include scientific understanding, technical feasibility, economic feasibility, risks, initiatives to enhance understanding, and views on implementation, including timing. In addition, the presentation will address the governance of SRM, including key issues such as moral hazard, termination shock, and the risk of political tension; failed approaches, such as UNEA 5 and 6; ongoing activities, including Make Sunsets, Stardust, Reflective, University of Chicago, and others; and the rationale for another attempt to develop effective governance.
In the second part, the presentation will offer suggestions on how to enhance governance in order to better limit the risks of climate change. These suggestions will include international cooperation, but without the need for unanimous decisions; legally binding commitments of countries, such as commitments to achieve carbon neutrality at a reasonable point in time; broadening the scope of the drivers of global warming; developing new commitments that address compensating residual GHG emissions; and establishing an international agreement on key issues related to SRM, such as research acceleration, international frameworks for deployment decisions, monitoring, and response protocols, as well as transparent and regular communication with the broader public.
Unfortunately, time is not more on our side than it was in 1992 when the Climate Convention was adopted in Rio. We also cannot negotiate with nature the increase of climate risks is driven by natural processes.
