Two problems or one? Climate engineering and conceptual disaggregation

Abstract

The term “climate engineering” is an ambiguous label for two categories of technologies for mediating global warming, Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). Whether CDR and SRM should be grouped together under a common umbrella term, or whether they should be treated as two disparate problems in need of disparate solutions, has long been a matter of debate. This paper first provides an empirical analysis of disaggregation. Topic modelling the scientific literature on climate engineering, I highlight a trend towards disaggregation driven by growth in the specialized literature on CDR. Second, I explore inconsistencies in the theoretical rationale for disaggregation and challenges in its practical implications. Third, I elaborate on the theoretical and practical utility of maintaining an integrated concept of climate engineering for highlighting the challenges of governing large-scale, hypothetical technological interventions into the climate system subject to deep uncertainties and mitigation deterrence.