Session 5: Perceptions of and Perspectives on Climate Engineering Research and Deployment
Chairs: Prof. Dr. Katrin Rehdanz (Kiel Institute for the World Economy),
Dr. Jack Stilgoe (Univeristy College London)
Climate engineering does not only raise questions for researchers from different disciplines but also for societal actors. It can raise a multitude of concerns like morality, feasibility, climate justice, fear, or just an indefinite unease in individuals as well as stakeholders.
One of the most prominent issues raised by climate engineering is whether and how it should be researched or whether climate engineering should be regarded an impermissible intervention into nature. While expert assessments are necessary to inform the public debate, the various positions articulated may be contested by both the public and experts. This session explores public perceptions of and expert perspectives on climate engineering research and deployment.
Contributions to this session may address, but are not limited to, the following questions:
- How do people perceive climate engineering in relation to mitigation and adaptation? Does the prospect of climate engineering as a policy option have an impact on mitigation behavior?
- Which arguments and framings are predominately used in the societal discourse? How are these arguments used and by whom? Which actors are involved?
- Does the public perceive climate engineering differently than experts?
- What determines the perceptions of climate engineering technologies?
- What is the perception of different forms of research?
- How do perceptions differ between climate engineering technologies?
- What are the perspectives for future climate engineering research?