Experiment Earth
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Experiment Earth In recent years, experiments in geoengineering – intentionally manipulating the Earth’s climate to reduce global warming – have become the focus of a vital debate about the intended and unintended consequences of innovation, raising profound social, political and ethical questions. This book explores these issues through the lens of the research project SPICE (Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering), one of the first major geoengineering studies worldwide which aims to put particles high into the atmosphere to cut the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. Drawing on three years of sociological research working with the scientists investigating the idea of geoengineering, the book examines how experiments become contro- versial and why many are calling for the scientific community and civil society to rethink how we govern emerging technologies. It illustrates broader dynamics that are highly relevant to wider debates on science and technology governance and the responsibilities of scientists to take better care of the futures they help bring about. This book takes a critical stance on existing assumptions about ethical issues in science, giving students, researchers and the general reader interested in the place of science in contemporary society a compelling framework for future thinking and discussion. Jack Stilgoe is a lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London, UK. ‘How should society react when the technological imagination seizes on the Earth itself as an experimental system? In this graceful critique of magical thinking, Stilgoe dissects the moves by which some came to see geoengineering as a project that not only can be done but must be done. An essential addition to the renewed debate on climate change, the book invites citizens and policy makers to think again about expert claims of inevitability, and to retake the future as a space for ethical and democratic imagining.’ Sheila Jasanoff, Harvard Kennedy School, USA ‘Experiment Earth is a book that is urgently needed. As human development becomes ever-more interwoven with the evolution of climate, Stilgoe asks a profound question: “What does it mean to take responsibility for global cli- mate?” His answer is more than about climate and science, and more than about geoengineering technologies. It is about how we see ourselves as responsible human beings, exercising power, creativity and judgement in the world, whilst remaining accountable to each other.’ Mike Hulme, King’s College London, UK ‘To geoengineer or not to geoengineer the climate will be one of the defining sci- ence and environment policy questions of the next fifty years. InExperiment Earth, Jack Stilgoe provides an indispensable guide to the theories, politics and per- sonalities which have shaped this emerging debate. With his unique perspective on the controversial SPICE project and the internal machinations of the Royal Society, Stilgoe digs beneath more superficial media coverage, to understand geoengineering as an experimental site for new approaches to the governance of technology and innovation. Entertaining, informative and insightful, this book should be read by all those who care about the future of science, democracy and the environment.’ James Wilsdon, University of Sussex, UK ‘Climate engineering is a challenging subject to approach. One must walk the line between normalisation of what, to many, appears unthinkable and a manifesto for despair and inaction opposite the very real threat of climate change. This book struggles admirably with this tension: what it is like to work on an idea you hope never happens, and how could you ever control it? Stilgoe has been afforded access to the scientists working in this difficult arena, building trust and detailing our, and his, struggle to come to terms with the enormity of the prob- lem. If you want to be inspired to wrestle with the intellectual challenges of how one might govern climate engineering technologies there may never be a better and more timely read than this.’ Matt Watson, University of Bristol, UK Science in Society Series Series Editor: Steve Rayner Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford Editorial Board: Jason Blackstock, Bjorn Ola Linner, Susan Owens, Timothy O’Riordan, Arthur Peterson, Nick Pidgeon, Dan Sarewitz, Andy Stirling, Chris Tyler, Andrew Webster, Steve Yearley The Earthscan Science in Society Series aims to publish new high-quality research, teaching, practical and policy-related books on topics that address the complex and vitally important interface between science and society. 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Miller Experiment Earth Responsible innovation in geoengineering Jack Stilgoe 7KLVSDJHLQWHQWLRQDOO\OHIWEODQN Experiment Earth Responsible innovation in geoengineering Jack Stilgoe First published 2015 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2015 Jack Stilgoe The right of Jack Stilgoe to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN: 978-0-415-73237-6 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-84919-5 (ebk) Typeset in Goudy by Swales & Willis, Exeter, Devon, UK Cover image: © Ken Bosma / Flickr / creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages: Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, Act 4, Scene 2 7KLVSDJHLQWHQWLRQDOO\OHIWEODQN For Faith, Hope, Leo and Zachary 7KLVSDJHLQWHQWLRQDOO\OHIWEODQN Contents List of figures xiv List of tables xv List of boxes xvi Acknowledgements xvii List of acronyms and initialisms xix 1 Balloon debate 1 2 Taking care of the future 21 3 Rethinking the unthinkable 64 4 Behind the scenes at the Royal Society 103 5 Open-air experimentation 129 6 Making models 159 7 The reluctant geoengineers 175 8 Reclaiming the experiment 198 Index 209 Figures 3.1 Number of geoengineering publications in the Web of Science database per year 91 3.2 Author networks in geoengineering research 92 3.3 Detail of author networks 93 4.1 Preliminary overall evaluation of the geoengineering techniques 116 4.2 Displaying estimated effectiveness versus safety for twelve geoengineering approaches 118 Table 5.1 Overview of stage-gate criteria and panel recommendations 136 Boxes 2.1 Questions of responsibility 31 5.1 Chronology of the SPICE project 133 Acknowledgements This book does not offer a final