Solar Geoengineering Seminar Series

Date: 

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location: 

Taubman Building, 15 Eliot Street, Allison Dining Room

"Linking Solar Geoengineering and Emissions Abatement Policies: Strategically Resolving an International Climate Policy Dilemma"

Speaker:

Jesse Reynolds, Emmett/Frankel Fellow in Environmental Law and Policy, School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles.

Contact: 

Amy Chang
acchang@seas.harvard.edu 

Lunch is provided with RSVP to acchang@seas.harvard.edu

Chair: 

David Keith, Faculty Associate. Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School.

Abstract:

Solar geoengineering may be able to significantly reduce climate-change risks, but raises sharp controversy. The leading cause of controversy is the concern that its research, development, or use might inappropriately displace efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. A possible response would be to strategically link the international policies of abatement and solar geoengineering. I expand on this idea, including by disaggregating states based on relevant characteristics, considering the processes of developing linkages, and the incentives that various policy linkages could foster. I explore various potential linkage mechanisms and identify one that could effectively reduce abatement displacement (if not increase abatement), appears feasible, and would be consistent with widely-held norms.