Saving the World From Bad Ideas
Bad Idea #9 "Dimming the Sun?!" with Cynthia Scharf
In this timely and far-reaching episode, Mark Lynas sits down with Cynthia Scharf — senior fellow at the Center for Future Generations and former UN climate advisor — to delve into one of the most contentious issues in climate policy: solar geoengineering.
Cynthia explains what solar radiation modification (SRM) is, how it could theoretically cool the planet by mimicking volcanic eruptions, and why even discussing it remains taboo. She argues that ignoring SRM may pose greater risks than researching it — especially as global temperatures surge and climate impacts escalate. They discuss the science, the politics, the ethics, and the terrifying prospect of a lone actor dimming the sun without global consent.
This is a deeply informed, emotionally honest conversation about a technology born of desperation — and the governance void we urgently need to address.
🧠 Topics Discussed:
🌞 What is SRM, and how would stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) work?
🌋 The Pinatubo analogy: can we cool the planet like a volcano?
🚫 Why there is no international framework to stop a country from deploying SRM
⚖️ Whether solar geoengineering could exacerbate global inequality
🧪 Why scientific research on SRM is desperately underfunded
🧬 Governance dilemmas: who sets the global thermostat?
⚠️ Termination shock: the catastrophic risk of stopping SRM suddenly
💸 The role of private actors and the risks of unregulated experimentation
🧠 Why we need both physical and social science research to understand impacts
👩🎓 The role of youth, future generations, and public engagement in shaping decisions
👩🏫 Guest Bio:
Cynthia Scharf is a senior fellow at the Brussels-based Center for Future Generations and the former head of strategic communications on climate change in the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She previously worked with the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) to initiate global dialogue on the governance of solar geoengineering. Her expertise lies at the intersection of diplomacy, climate risk, and intergenerational ethics.
📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:
💬 Quote Highlights:
“These are technologies born of desperation. And we’re entering desperate times.” — Cynthia Scharf
“There is no law — no treaty, no mechanism — to stop a country from deploying SRM today.” — Cynthia Scharf
“Solar geoengineering is not a solution. At best, it might be a supplement to reduce suffering in the short term.” — Cynthia Scharf
“We should be doing publicly funded research, not leaving this to Silicon Valley billionaires or private companies.” — Cynthia Scharf
“The governance vacuum is terrifying. Who decides the temperature of the planet? Based on what legitimacy?” — Cynthia Scharf
🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is an international environmental movement that champions science-based solutions for climate, nature, and prosperity. From clean energy to smart agriculture, we challenge bad ideas and promote better ones. Learn more at weplanet.org.
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