Geo-Engineering – an effective solution to climate change?

Wednesday 17. February 16:00 - 18:00
Location: DGAP, Berlin

 

The Copenhagen Conference did not propose an appropriate plan of action to the economic, social and environmental threats posed by climate change. Therefore it is legitimate to discuss alternative options to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas and to minimize solar radiation. “Geo-Engineering” is a concept that refers to scientists’ efforts to find such possibilities. Although this seems to infer a solution that is easy, effective and fast, there are quite a few concerns. What are the political and ethical implications of Geo-Engineering? Does this new technology eventually constitute a problem for foreign policy? Lee Lane, Resident Fellow and Co director of the Geo-Engineering Project at the American Enterprise Institute, Professor Dr. Konrad Ott, Professor for environmental ethics at the University of Greifswald, Dr. Ralph Bodle LL.M., Senior Fellow/ Coordinator Legal Studies at the Ecologic Institute were debating about the implications of Geo-Engineering, moderated by Dr. Sylke Tempel, Chief Editor of INTERNATIONALE POLITIK. This event took place in cooperation with the Ecologic Institute Berlin.

“Geo-Engineering is the only option we have that can plausibly deal with rapid climate change”, assured Lee Lane who is convinced of the new technology method while his debate opponent, Dr. Konrad Ott, exhorted its moral hazard. In his opinion the supposedly quick and easy solution of Geo-Engineering prevents society from changing something about the cause of climate change. Furthermore he demands a more transparent and participatory approach, because the new technology does not yet have legitimation.

Moreover, another concern was that Geo-Engineering might have security implications for International Relations. “If one state is strong enough to apply the technology, then it will do so”, warns Dr. Ralph Bodle. The problem then would be that this might cause unintended side-effects for neighbouring countries.

The common conclusion was that a multilateral approach in the further development and application of Geo-Engineering is inevitable.