Instructors looking for a good overview of climate geoengineering options should consider David W. Keith’s chapter in Climate Change Science & Policy (Schneider, et al., eds. 2010) (Chapter 49, Engineering the Planet).

Among the key take-aways from the chapter are the following:

1. Geoengineering is “intentional, large-scale manipulation of the environment.” Environmental change must be the goal rather than a side effect, and intent and effect of manipulation must be large in scale;
2. Two primary geoengineering methods are adding aerosols to the atmosphere and construction of giant shields in space to scatter sunlight.
   • While sulfur injection geoengineering would mimic impacts of other anthropogenic activities, e.g. coal combustion, a key distinction is that this intervention would be intentional, opening “a new chapter in humanity’s relationship with the Earth;”
   • The Presidential Science Advisory Committee report submitted to President Johnson was not only the first major government policy document to draw attention to potential impact of carbon dioxide emissions on climate, but that it also offered only one potential response, which was dispersing reflective particles in the atmosphere;
   • Sulfur injection schemes would cost roughly a fact0r of ten less than mitigation options to address climate change. Such options could be in the reach of rich individuals or foundations;
   • While some studies indicate that sulfur injection could adversely impact the ozone layer, the use of absorbing aerosols could offset some or all of these effects
   • Space-based sunshields would have fewer and more predictable side effects than aerosol injection
   • Just as safer cars may encourage more aggressive driving, geoengineering options could reduce incentive to cut emissions. However, geoengineering might be necessary if aggressive mitigation strategies prove to be insufficient, e.g. if climate’s sensitivity to carbon dioxide proves greater than projected or our mitigation measures still fail to prevent rapid deglaciation and substantial sea level rise. Geoengineering shouldn’t be viewed as a substitute for mitigation, because to do so would require an ever growing scale of technological compensation to offset growing carbon dioxide measures. Geoengineering could be used in conjunction with mitigation to reduce risks of climate change during the period of peak carbon dioxide concentrations;
3. It’s misleading to argue that we shouldn’t pursue geoengineering options because of the impossibility of predicting systemic responses. Should concentrations of greenhouse gases rise to 600ppm, it’s unreasonable to argue that the risks of 600ppm along would be larger than the risks of 600ppm and deployment of a geoengineering scheme.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN ETHICS AND GEOENGINEERING GOVERNANCE

Oxford Geoengineering Programme
Oxford Martin School
University Of Oxford

Protocol reference number: HUM/10033F/E

Grade 8:  £36,715 – £43,840 per annum at 1 October 2010

Fixed-term for two years from date of appointment.

Applications are invited for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Ethics and Geoengineering Governance to work on a project in the newly formed Oxford Geoengineering Programme (OGP). The post will be jointly hosted by the Institute for Science and Ethics (ISE)  (part of the Faculty of Philosophy) and the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society (InSIS) (part of the Saïd Business School), both of which are part of the Oxford Martin School.

The Research Fellow will conduct research on the ethical, legal and governance implications of advances in geoengineering and will be expected to publish original, high-quality research.  In addition to research responsibilities the postholder will be expected to contribute to the project in other ways, which may include, for example, involvement in conference or other event organisation and engaging in collaborations with external researchers.

The fellowship is for two years from the date of appointment and the postholder will be a Research Fellow of both ISE and InSIS. ISE is based at Littlegate House, central Oxford and InSIS is based at the Saïd Business School nearby.

Candidates should have a strong academic background in one or more of the following: (1) Philosophy; (2) Politics and International Relations; (3) Environmental Sociology; (4) Political Anthropology; (4) Law; (5) Science and Technology Studies.  By the date of appointment, candidates should have received (or submitted their thesis for) the degree of PhD (or equivalent).

Further particulars: FPs including details of the application procedure are available here or from the following websites:

www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/vacancies |  www.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/vacancies.htm

or directly from Deborah Sheehan, ISE, Suite 8, Littlegate House, 16-17 St Ebbes St., Oxford OX1 1PT.
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 286888  |  Email: 

Deadline:  The deadline for receipt of applications is:  Noon (GMT) on Monday 14 February 2011

The George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication (4C) (http://climate.gmu.edu) invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to our ongoing Climate Change in the American Mind research program (conducted in collaboration with the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication).  The program involves survey research (including nationally representative surveys, community surveys, membership organization surveys, etc.), message experiments, in-depth interviews, and audience segmentation research.  The post-doc may also get involved in other research and programmatic activity at 4C including collaborations with the public health/health care community, TV weathercasters, and communities that are planning climate change adaptation initiatives.

Candidates must have a PhD in a relevant social science discipline, and a track record of published journal articles and/or conference papers on relevant topics of inquiry including communication (climate change, science, environment, public health, and/or political communication), behavior change, applied psychology, political science, the built environment, social-ecological models, and/or informal science education. Proficiency in survey research and quantitative data management and analysis is also a requirement. Experience with qualitative data collection, strategic (program) planning, professional development, and climate science are preferred, as are excellent organizational skills, ability to communicate verbally and in writing, and the ability to adapt to the changing demands of a dynamic research environment.

The position begins as soon as February 15th and no later than April 1^st, 2011. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position will initially be for one year, with renewal for a second year given satisfactory performance and available funds. Members of under-represented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

For full consideration, interested and qualified applicants must submit the online faculty application at http://jobs.gmu.edu for position #F9452z. Applications should include (a) cover letter including a statement of research interests and career goals, and names and contact information of two professional references, and (b) a vita.

Inquires about the position can be sent to .

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Spring 2011 Postgraduate Courses on

Building Resilience to Climate Change

28 February – 25 March 2011

Tokyo, Japan

www.isp.unu.edu/cecar

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DEADLINE: 21 January 2011

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The United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP), Tokyo, invites applications for the new intensive 4-week postgraduate programme on  “Building Resilience to Climate Change” developed under the framework of the University Network for Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research (UN-CECAR).

The new courses, conducted at UNU-ISP, cover a range of issues on sustainability and adaptation to climate and ecosystems change. Topics include:

• climate and atmospheric science,
• impacts assessment,
• climate and society,
• ecosystems resilience,
• risk and uncertainty,
• integrated solutions for mitigation and adaptation,
• community-based adaptation strategies.

Students also will receive practical training in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing software.

FELLOWSHIPS

A limited number of fellowships (covering tuition fees and living expenses) are available for outstanding students from developing countries and who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance. All students are expected to pay for their own travel expenses to and from Tokyo.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION

The programme is open to Master’s and Ph.D students who are currently enrolled in a university postgraduate programme and who have already identified their thesis topic prior to arriving in Japan.

Applicants must provide:

• a completed Application & Fellowship Form with photo and signature;
• proof of enrolment in a master’s or Ph.D. degree programme;
• original transcript of academic record;
• a detailed proposal of their research topic, and explain how it will link their current university thesis topic to that of climate change;
• TOEFL scores or equivalent proof of English-language proficiency for non-native speakers or those who do not have an academic degree in an English-speaking country; and
• minimum of two references; one from their supervisor and one from another faculty member.

For detailed information on the application and admission procedures, and to download the application form, please visit the UNU-ISP website at:

http://isp.unu.edu/cecar.

Alva Lim (Ms.)

Researcher, and

Project Assistant for UN-CECAR

United Nations University

Institute for Sustainability and Peace (ISP)

Tel: +81-3-5467-1213

Fax: +81-3-3499-2828

For instructors who include a module on climate geoengineering, there is a very good new article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States on the carbon dioxide removal option of mineral sequestration, Mineral sequestration is a geoengineering approach that contemplates acceleration of the natural weathering process, producing a reaction between silicate rocks and carbon dioxide that forms solid carbonate and silicate materials. The reaction consumes one carbon dioxide molecule for each silicate molecule, with storage of carbon as a solid mineral.  The PNAS article focuses on silicate weathering of the mineral olivine.

Among the article’s take-aways:

1. Enhanced silicate weathering by dissolution of olivine in the humid tropics, an optimal area to effectuate this scheme, could store approximately 1 Pg of carbon per year. This is 20% less than estimated in some previous studies;
2. Another complementary option would be to dissolve olivine powder in open ocean surface waters. This could increase sequestration to a maximum of 5 Pg of carbon annually. This could reduce warming by 0.6-1.1K
   • The increase of riverine input of silicic acid into the world’s oceans might also enhance the marine biological pump, ultimately enhancing oceanic sequestration of carbon dioxide
3. Environmental impacts need to be further assessed , including potential increases in alkalinity and silic acid in soils and aquatic ecosystems.