A presentation by Joanne Yao (Associate Professor in International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London) and Danielle Young (Assistant Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Leeds). This event is hosted by the Centre for Sustainability and the Centre for International Security.
Addressing climate change will be one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century. However, since its creation in 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has made slow progress in helping the world reduce carbon emission. This presentation focuses on growing interest in scientific and political forums on the development and use of solar geoengineering as another tool to lower global temperatures. In particular, we will discuss stratospheric aerosol injections (SAI) in which sulphur dioxide or other reflective participles are sprayed in the stratosphere to partially block out incoming solar radiation and temporarily cool global temperatures.
First, the presentation will highlight SAI's potential and risks as narrated by its proponents and critics. Then, we will focus on how rising geopolitical tensions and militarism around the world might inform and complicate the governance and deployment of such a technology — using the Arctic as an illustrative example. Finally, we introduce our research project and the use of non-ideal simulations as one way to study the interplay of science, complexity, and geopolitical competition as we weight up the risks of such planetary technologies.
Following the presentation, attendees will have the chance to discuss and ask questions. This session will be moderated by Dr. Marian Feist.
Speakers
Joanne Yao
Joanne Yao is a Reader (Associate Professor) in International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London. Her research focuses on environmental history and politics, the legacies of empire and historical international relations, and the development of early international organizations. Her first book, The Ideal River, on the first international organizations was the winner of the 2023 British International Studies Association's Outstanding First Book Prize and the 2024 International Studies Association Environmental Studies Section's Best Book Award. Her current project focuses on the international governance of Antarctica and early outer space exploration.
Danielle Young
Danielle Young is an Assistant Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses how global or transnational problems, particularly climate change, challenge or expose the limitations of the modern international states system. She is currently working on an UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) project to develop better strategic foresight about the potential geopolitical challenges to solar radiation modification governance. She is also a part of a UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded project with an interdisciplinary team of climate scientists and social scientists to develop a more holistic understanding of the risks of stratospheric aerosol injection.