Geoengineering: Contender for Biggest Ethical Issue of the Century

The UK Science and Technology Committee and the US Congressional Science and Technology Committee are both starting new inquiries into the regulation of geoengineering.

This may well be one of the biggest ethical issues the world will face this century. We are of course geoengineering the planet on a daily basis now.

Together with colleagues Steve Rayner (Professor of Science and Civilisation, Director of the Institute of Science, Innovation and Society at the Said Business School), Catherine Redgwell (Professor of International Law at University College London), Nick Pidgeon (Professor of Psychology at Cardiff University) and Tim Kruger (Director of the Oxford Geoengineering Institute), I have submitted written evidence to the committee.

The first submission: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/memo/geoengineer/ucm0702.htm

The second submission (responding to oral evidence to the committee): http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/memo/geoengineer/ucm07a02.htm.

Our response now to the challenges raised by geoengineering will have a massive impact on our future.