Collaboration and Coordination on Geoengineering
Introduction
A joint inquiry on geoengineering was initiated in 2009 by the Science and Technology committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.K. House of Commons. Geoengineering is the deliberate, large-scale modification of the Earth’s climate systems for the purposes of counteracting climate change. This document serves as an explanation of the committees’ co-ordination and collaboration on the topic
Background
In April 2009, the U.K. Committee with the remit for science visited Washington D.C. Its Members met with Representative Bart Gordon, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee, and the chairmen of both committees — Phil Willis MP was the Chairman of the House of Commons Committee — discussed topics of mutual interest and potential collaboration. Representative Gordon suggested that there would be value in the two Committees collaborating on an emerging science and technology subject with important international implications.
The committees explored several potential topics and arrangements for coordinating activities. Geoengineering emerged as an attractive subject for the collaboration, particularly as most geoengineering projects will have international implications and require international collaboration. The two committees were at different stages of examination on the subject, with the U.K. Committee having already produced a report and the U.S. Committee initiating a series of preliminary hearings on the subject. This would allow the committees to leverage each other’s experience by covering distinct aspects of subject.
Geoengineering
In its report, Engineering: turning ideas into reality, (HC (2008-09) 50-I, March 2009) the U.K. Committee recommends that the Government develop a publicly-funded programme of geoengineering research (para 217). Following the Committee’s report the U.K. Royal Society published, on 1 September 2009, the findings of a major study into geoengineering, Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty. This study provided a detailed assessment of the various methods and considered the potential efficiency and unintended consequences they might pose. The U.S. Committee is drawing on the Royal Society’s report and its contributing scientists and policy experts, including Professor John Shepherd, who chaired the working group that produced the report. [1]
November 5, 2009 - Geoengineering: Assessing the Implications of Large-Scale Climate Intervention.
US House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. Witness Testimony: Dr. Ken Caldeira, Mr. John Shepherd, Mr. Lee Lane, Dr. James Fleming, Dr. Alan Robock.
January 13, 2010 - The Regulation of Geoengineering.
Geoengineering House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Thatcher Room.
Witness Testimony: Dr Jason J Blackstock, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada, Dr David Keith, Director, ISEEE Energy and Environmental Systems Group, and John Virgoe, expert in geoengineering governance.
February 4, 2010 - Geoengineering II: The Scientific Basis and Engineering Challenges.
US House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
Witness Testimony: Dr. Philip Rasch, Dr. Robert Jackson, Dr. Klaus Lackner, Dr. David Keith.
March 18, 2010 - Geoengineering III: Domestic and International Research Governance.
US House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
Witness Testimony: Mr. MP Phil Willis, Dr. Frank Rusco, Dr. Scott Barrett, Dr. Jane Long, and Dr. Granger Morgan.
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