TOMACE
Trade-offs between mitigation and climate engineering: an interdisciplinary approach
- Prof. Dr. Katrin Rehdanz // Kiel University
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Ernst // University of Kassel
- Prof. Dr. Konrad Ott // Kiel University
- Dr. Christine Merk // Kiel Institute for the World Economy
- Julia Pohlers // Kiel University
- Geraldine Klaus // University of Kassel
Summary
The project Trade-offs between mitigation and climate engineering: an interdisciplinary approach (TOMACE) contributes to the hitherto expert-dominated climate-engineering (CE) debate by conducting detailed analyses of lay persons’ acceptance of solar radiation management (SRM) and the effects of SRM on people’s willingness to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. TOMACE looks at how and why people choose a portfolio of mitigation and SRM options for fighting climate change that involves making trade-offs between the options. The trade-off decisions are especially relevant as they require a weighing-up of the risks of climate change against the risks of SRM. The profound uncertainties and the moral judgements involved make the responses particularly interesting. Our hypothesis is that a) the weighing of costs and benefits, b) the significance persons
attribute to ethical arguments, c) lifestyles and d) self-image and identity determine the acceptance of SRM and the trade-off decisions between mitigation and SRM. The project thus provides important insights for policymakers about the acceptance of SRM and its influence on the climate policy portfolio.
K E Y Q U E S T I O N S
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Methods
TOMACE brings together the disciplines environmental and behavioral economics, environmental
ethics, and environmental psychology. Lay persons’ perceptions will be analyzed using these
quantitative and qualitative methods:
• Psychological surveys and experiments
• Choice experiments
• Framed-field experiments
• Citizens’ jury
These different disciplinary approaches will be closely connected to each other by the use of common scenarios developed at the beginning of the project.
Role of the project within the SPP
The project TOMACE contributes to the hitherto expert-dominated climate-engineering (CE) debate by conducting detailed analyses of lay persons’ acceptance of solar radiation management (SRM). The project provides information about how and why people choose a portfolio of mitigation and SRM options for fighting climate change that involves making trade-offs
between the options. TOMACE collaborates with other SPP projects on scenario development.