Reviewer 2 does geoengineering

Andrew Lockley
  • 3.2 (9)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Reviewer 2 quibbles with actual experts in Solar Radiation Modification and Carbon Dioxide Removal, before rejecting their work on spurious, spiteful and capricious grounds. You'd expect nothing less from R2.

  1. JAN 24

    Comparing SRM and Opioids - Clark

    In this episode, @geoengineering1 is joined by Britta Clark, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University, to unpack why solar geoengineering is increasingly compared to opioids. They discuss how this framing casts SRM as temporary “relief” from climate warming and why it raises concerns about potentially slowing emissions cuts. The conversation focuses on how climate models, policy debates, and public discourse can quietly shift expectations about how fast emissions reductions should happen once solar geoengineering is considered, even when people say it should not delay the energy transition. Together, they explore why this tension matters and what it could mean for future climate decisions. Paper: Clark, B. (2025). Solar geoengineering, delay, and addiction. Climatic Change, 178(11), 209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-025-04059-3 Open access version: https://philpapers.org/rec/CLASGD-2 To stay updated on all things geoengineering-related, subscribe to: Carbon Removal Updates Substack: https://carbonremovalupdates.substack.com/ Solar Geoengineering Updates Substack: https://solargeoengineeringupdates.substack.com/

    1h 19m

  2. JAN 9

    Malaria Trends and SRM - Hussain

    In this episode, @geoengineering1 interviews Athar Hussain, physicist and professor of atmospheric science at COMSATS University, Pakistan, about his recent study examining how SAI could influence malaria transmission across South Asia. Using the VECTRI malaria model, the research compares an unmitigated high-emissions pathway (RCP8.5) with the GLENS-SAI scenario, which stabilizes global temperatures at 2020 levels, across seven countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The discussion highlights that while SAI could reduce overall malaria transmission intensity across much of the region by lowering vector density, entomological inoculation rates (EIR), and case numbers, its effects are spatially uneven, with localized increases projected in parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Nepal. The conversation also explores the public-health implications of these shifts, the potential risks and trade-offs of solar geoengineering, and the importance of region-specific strategies, local expertise, and international collaboration in addressing climate-related health risks. Paper: Hussain, A., Shoaib, M., & Latif, M. (2025). Malaria transmission dynamics under climate change and solar geoengineering in South Asia: a GLENS-based assessment. Malaria Journal, 24(1), 439. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05666-2 To stay updated on all things geoengineering-related, subscribe to: Carbon Removal Updates Substack: https://carbonremovalupdates.substack.com/ Solar Geoengineering Updates Substack: https://solargeoengineeringupdates.substack.com/

    1h 24m

  3. 12/22/2025

    Adaptation vs Geoengineering - Gambill

    @geoengineering1 interviews Paul Gambill to discuss the intricate dynamics between adaptation and geoengineering. Drawing on his experience as the former founder of Nori, the first carbon removal marketplace, Paul reflects on why scaling durable carbon removal has proven so difficult and what those barriers suggest for stabilizing the climate in an era of overshoot. The conversation then turns to the growing relevance of geoengineering approaches, including solar radiation management (SRM) and other large-scale interventions, and the conditions under which they might move from taboo to serious consideration. The episode explores a spectrum of techniques that blur the line between adaptation and planetary engineering, from ocean iron fertilization and ice-sheet stabilization to localized cooling strategies. Throughout, Paul stresses the need for public awareness, strategic policy development, philanthropic investment, and credible long-term governance to ensure that any future climate interventions are deliberate, legitimate, and responsibly managed. Articles referenced in the episode: What’s the Difference Between Adaptation and Geoengineering? https://www.inevitableandobvious.com/p/adaptation-vs-geoengineering A Climate Goal for the Overshoot Era https://www.inevitableandobvious.com/p/a-climate-goal-for-the-overshoot-era What It Takes to Make Cooling Interventions Thinkable https://www.inevitableandobvious.com/p/what-it-takes-to-make-cooling-thinkable Paul Gamble’s current project: https://pitch.com/v/light-the-beacons-pitch-deck-hchvkq To stay updated on all things geoengineering-related, subscribe to: Carbon Removal Updates Substack: https://carbonremovalupdates.substack.com/ Solar Geoengineering Updates Substack: https://solargeoengineeringupdates.substack.com/

    1h 12m

  4. 12/13/2025

    Festive snowy forests - D'Souza

    What could be more festive than carbon storage in snowy evergreen forests? @geoengineering1 interviews Kevin Bradley D'Souza, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Waterloo, about the real climate potential of reforesting Boreal forests. Kevin explains the crucial role these forests play in carbon storage, biodiversity, and permafrost protection, while noting that reforestation in the Boreal comes with important challenges. The conversation explores key factors such as albedo effects, wildfire risks, and the importance of Indigenous perspectives in forest management. Kevin also stresses the need for careful, multi-dimensional approaches to reforestation and urges caution around commercial forest-based carbon credits, given the scientific uncertainties that still remain. Papers discussed: Dsouza, K. B., Ofosu, E., Salkeld, J., Boudreault, R., Moreno-Cruz, J., & Leonenko, Y. (2025). Assessing the climate benefits of afforestation in the Canadian Northern Boreal and Southern Arctic. Nature Communications, 16(1), 1964. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56699-9 Dsouza, K. B., Ofosu, E., Boudreault, R., Moreno-Cruz, J., & Leonenko, Y. (2025). Substantial carbon removal capacity of Taiga reforestation and afforestation at Canada’s boreal edge. Communications Earth & Environment, 6(1), 893. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02822-z To stay updated on all things CDR-related, subscribe to the Carbon Removal Updates Substack newsletter: https://carbonremovalupdates.substack.com/

    1h 13m

  5. 11/09/2025

    Distributing solid aerosols - Hack

    Miranda Hack provides an in-depth look at the often-overlooked engineering and logistical barriers to large-scale deployment of solid particles for stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). She explains how dispersing sub-micron mineral particles at altitude, including challenges like agglomeration, complex nozzle flows, and supply-chain constraints, introduces significant uncertainties and costs. These challenges may reduce cooling efficiency and narrow the design space for “low-risk” SAI strategies, suggesting that solid aerosols could be far less viable than existing models assume. Paper: Hack, M., McNeill, V. F., Steingart, D., & Wagner, G. (2025). Engineering and logistical concerns add practical limitations to stratospheric aerosol injection strategies. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 34635. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20447-2 To stay updated on all things SRM-related, subscribe to the Solar Geoengineering Updates newsletter: https://solargeoengineeringupdates.substack.com/

    1 hr

  6. 10/04/2025

    SRM hoses - Hyde

    Roderick Hyde discusses his recent paper on using high-altitude hoses for solar geoengineering. While most proposals focus on aircraft delivery, Hyde revisits an older but largely dismissed concept. He describes suspending a 20 km hose by balloons to continuously pump sulfur-bearing fluids into the stratosphere, and argues that advances in modern materials and engineering may overcome past barriers. The conversation covers the technical hurdles such as wind dynamics, hose stability, extreme pressures, and material stress, as well as design variations for pumping H₂S as liquid or gas. Hyde explains how streamlining, intermediate pumps, and lightweight aero-shrouds could make the system viable. The discussion also highlights the potential advantages of this approach, including affordability, continuous operation, and scalability. While a single hose could not halt global warming, Hyde suggests that a distributed network of ~20 installations could offset warming from CO₂, offering a near-term, low-cost option to buy time while longer-term climate solutions take effect. Paper: Hyde, R. A. (2025). A Planetary Cooling Hose. arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.07985. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2509.07985

    44 min

  7. 10/01/2025

    More Moore - polar SRM research

    John Moore joins the podcast to discuss his recent Viewpoint article responding to Siegert et al.’s paper on polar geoengineering. While Siegert and colleagues argue that proposed interventions are infeasible, environmentally dangerous, and a distraction from decarbonization, Moore contrasts the prevailing “consequences-based paradigm” (raising alarms to spur actions) with a new “compassionate harm reduction paradigm” that calls for exploring all potential tools including geoengineering rather than rejecting them outright, so humanity has options to reduce harm if warming overshoots. The conversation covers the risks of melting glaciers and sea-level rise, and specific concepts such as stratospheric aerosol injection. Moore also stresses the importance of Arctic Indigenous leadership, pointing to Saami Council-led review processes as a model for rights-based and knowledge co-produced governance. The discussion also highlights the sharp divides in the climate community over polar geoengineering and raises fundamental questions about the responsibilities of scientists in an era of accelerating climate risk. Papers: Lead Article: Siegert, M., Sevestre, H., Bentley, M. J., Brigham-Grette, J., Burgess, H., Buzzard, S., ... & Truffer, M. (2025). Safeguarding the polar regions from dangerous geoengineering: a critical assessment of proposed concepts and future prospects. Frontiers in Science, 3, 1527393. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2025.1527393 Viewpoint: Moore, J. C., Macias-Fauria, M., & Wolovick, M. (2025). A new paradigm from the Arctic. Frontiers in Science, 3, 1657323. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2025.1657323

    56 min

  8. 08/25/2025

    SRM's socioeconomic cost - Bronsther & Xu

    Jacob Bronsther & Yangyang Xu discuss their recent paper on the socioeconomic costs of Solar Radiation Modification. While SRM’s direct technical costs appear modest (~$18B/°C cooling), the authors argue that its broader costs are far greater. They estimate that Stratospheric Aerosol Injection could generate between $0 and $809 billion annually in side-effect harms, with potentially higher figures for Marine Cloud Brightening. The conversation also explores SRM’s reliance on unprecedented global cooperation, the political risks of weather accountability, and the dangers of termination, which could impose major financial costs. They contrast these challenges with large-scale Carbon Dioxide Removal, noting that although CDR entails immense technical expenses, it avoids some of SRM’s political and termination risks. The discussion highlights the complexity of weighing the full spectrum of costs and benefits when evaluating climate-engineering strategies. Paper: Bronsther, J., & Xu, Y. (2025). The social costs of solar radiation management. npj Climate Action, 4(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00273-y

    58 min
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3.2
out of 5
9 Ratings

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Reviewer 2 quibbles with actual experts in Solar Radiation Modification and Carbon Dioxide Removal, before rejecting their work on spurious, spiteful and capricious grounds. You'd expect nothing less from R2.

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