Climate engineering from a European perspective

Climate engineering (CE) is increasingly gaining attention in the scientific, policy, and public arenas – in Europe and worldwide – as a way to mitigate global warming. CE covers a broad range of potential techniques under two main aspects: managing solar radiation, and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The techniques under discussion have great potential to add value to efforts of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, but come with serious potential risks and a range of uncertainties.

The EuTRACE project – European Trans-disciplinary Assessment of Climate Engineering – is designed to provide a distinct European perspective on CE, especially relating CE to the climate targets set in Europe. Funded by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Research Programme, the project takes a multi-disciplinary approach to assess the potentials, uncertainties, risks, implications, and implementation criteria of CE; engage in dialogue with the public, policy, and civil society communities to understand relevant concerns and communicate findings; and provide policy options for the EU and its partners both in Europe and abroad for addressing CE challenges and opportunities.

Within EuTRACE adelphi will work closely with 13 partners from five European countries to establish regular and diverse means of dialogue with the relevant communities, and of disseminating project and related findings to a broad public and policy audience. adelphi will also help develop and implement a scenario-building workshop with civil society, government, and academic representatives, as well as provide policy recommendations on CE governance, and on how CE options may best be used in addressing climate change in the EU.