The Psychological Costs of Geoengineering: Why it May Be Hard to Accept Even If it Works

Wil C. G. Burns and Andrew L. Strauss (eds) Climate Change Geoengineering: Philosophical Perspectives, Legal Issues, and Governance Frameworks (Cambridge University Press, 2013)

21 Pages Posted: 13 Jan 2016

See all articles by Gareth T. Davies

Gareth T. Davies

VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Law

Date Written: January 13, 2013

Abstract

When talking about climate change or geoengineering it is common for arguments to revolve around the quantitative and concrete considerations: to what extent is climate change real and caused by human action? What will be the economic and human consequences? What are the risks of geoengineering? What are its costs? Yet, it will be suggested below, these arguments will often be deployed opportunistically. That is to say, the stance that people take on these questions does not in fact explain their attitudes about climate change or geoengineering. Rather, the stances are symptomatic. Most people do not assess the evidence, and then use this to found a policy standpoint. Rather, their fundamental attitude is formed by many factors, many fears, many hopes, and this attitude is then defended with scientific or material arguments that are essentially plucked off-the-shelf from the media or other sources.

Keywords: geoengineering, climate change, climate engineering

Suggested Citation

Davies, Gareth T., The Psychological Costs of Geoengineering: Why it May Be Hard to Accept Even If it Works (January 13, 2013). Wil C. G. Burns and Andrew L. Strauss (eds) Climate Change Geoengineering: Philosophical Perspectives, Legal Issues, and Governance Frameworks (Cambridge University Press, 2013), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2714883

Gareth T. Davies (Contact Author)

VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Law ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
72
Abstract Views
868
Rank
585,331
PlumX Metrics