Abstract
ABSTRACT Large-scale intervention in the Earth’s climate system is increasingly present in discussions about possible responses to climate change. Young people’s perspectives have tended to be under-represented despite the intergenerational consequences of policy in this field. We report on a novel approach to research and practice: the co-creation of a youth guide and policy brief by youth participants and facilitators. The model offers potential use by practitioners for engaging publics at the early stages of technoscientific innovations. Findings fall into two categories: youth priorities for geoengineering and authorial responsibility as a way of supporting youth action. Tentative conclusions from youth participants are (i) action must be prioritised now to mitigate and adapt to climate change, rather than continuing with ‘business as usual’; and (ii) there is a need for proactive international cooperation on governance and research on geoengineering to understand potential environmental and social consequences of geoengineering proposals for people at different temporal and spatial scales. Greater public dialogue on geoengineering and its governance is needed, particularly involving young people. The youth guide and policy brief co-authored by participants and facilitators, and the dialogic methods used in their production, can contribute to this dialogue.
Highlights
The large-scale intervention in the Earth’s climate system (‘geoengineering’ or climate engineering) refers to a range of proposed responses to climate change which generally take one of two approaches: the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or the reflection of solar radiation away from the Earth
We outline here youth perspectives on geoengineering based on the ideas presented in the youth guide and policy brief (Blake et al, 2021, see supplemental material) summarised according to their articulation of the problem, the principles identified as important when tackling climate change, the controversies associated with geoengineering, and key messages, recommendations and questions to consider
Underpinning the youth guide and policy brief was the need for the inclusion of youth in long-term decision-making about environmental interventions: At the moment I think a lot of political decisions focus on who has money and power, which young people don’t tend to have
Summary
The large-scale intervention in the Earth’s climate system (‘geoengineering’ or climate engineering) refers to a range of proposed responses to climate change which generally take one of two approaches: the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (carbon geoengineering), or the reflection of solar radiation away from the Earth (solar geoengineering). The changing climate demands a response, and it is important that techno-scientific responses are considered in the context of approaches to adaptation and mitigation. Research on public perspectives on geoengineering has tended to focus on the acceptability of different techniques to adult populations. Study aims to contribute knowledge about how to engage youth (using the European Commission definition as those young people aged 15–29) through novel participatory and co-creative methods, and to present some insights as to current youth priorities in relation to geoengineering. The approach involves young people as active subjects (rather than passive objects) in researching, exploring, synthesising and communicating (including as co-authors of this paper and a youth guide and policy brief) key messages for decision-makers. The paper presents a model for building reciprocity into the research process, avoiding polarisation and for researching how publics respond to early stage technoscientific innovation
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