Strategic implications of counter-geoengineering: clash or cooperation?


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Date

2018-12

Publication Type

Working Paper

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yes

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Abstract

Solar geoengineering technologies (also known as solar radiation management) are receiving increasing attention as one option for addressing climate change, with their potential to partially offset the global warming caused by the increased emissions of greenhouse gases. However, different countries may have different preferences over the optimal amount of cooling. Additionally, if the cost of these technologies is low it is possible that the country with the strongest incentive for cooling (the so-called ‘free-driver’) can afford to impose its preference on other countries – and with it, possible negative effects. This research investigates the potential impacts of counter-geoengineering technologies, which could negate the cooling effects of solar geoengineering. Countries could use counter-geoengineering to counteract what they regard as harmful solar geoengineering instigated by another. The researchers ask whether the presence of counter-geoengineering could tip the balance away from the free-driver problem in favour of international cooperation. They find that the presence of counter-geoengineering would make the risk of unilateral action to cool the climate less likely, but not always with benign effects.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

313

Pages / Article No.

Publisher

London School of Economics and Political Science

Event

Edition / version

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Date created

Subject

climate intervention; solar geoengineering; counter-geoengineering; freedriver; strategic conflicts; game theory; cooperation; externality; global warming; International environmental agreements

Organisational unit

03877 - Bommier, Antoine / Bommier, Antoine check_circle
02120 - Dep. Management, Technologie und Ökon. / Dep. of Management, Technology, and Ec.

Notes

Also published as: Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy Working Paper No. 345, ISSN 2515-5709

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