Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 5 hrs ago
War game highlights risks of an unregulated race to cool the planet
A group of scientists, diplomats, military personnel and others took part in a climate-policy simulation at Queen Mary University of London.
They played governments, nonprofits, Indigenous groups and technology companies in a fictional UN committee.
The exercise tested how the world might respond to solar geoengineering, which aims to cool Earth by reflecting some sunlight back into space.
The cooling effect is expected, but scientists are uncertain about other consequences, which could vary by region.
The technology would need to continue to keep temperatures down, and stopping it could cause temperatures to rise quickly.
Interest is growing as private companies explore the idea and some technology leaders support it.
The simulation was designed to examine how international disagreements could affect decisions about the technology.
One former UN adviser said governments may need to address its oversight within the next decade.
A war game in London explored how countries and other groups might respond to solar geoengineering, a technology intended to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight.
The simulation highlighted the risk of an uncontrolled global race to develop the technology amid its vast and uncertain effects.
Participants included foreign-relations experts, scientists, military personnel and former government officials.
The game simulated meetings at three points: the present, September 2027 and September 2028.
- Who
- Foreign-relations experts, scientists, military personnel and former government officials took part. The game was arranged by Danielle Young, an assistant professor in international relations at Leeds University.
- What
- Participants simulated international responses to solar radiation modification, a proposed way to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight.
- When
- The first game in the series took place one morning in September, the year before the article was published. Its simulated meetings were set in the present, September 2027 and September 2028.
- Where
- Queen Mary University of London, in London.
- Why
- The game aimed to stress-test the world's response and help prevent an uncontrolled global race to develop the technology.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I thought that would be such an easy thing. Like, we can all agree to do ethical research and make sure it's for the better of all humans. And boy, was I wrong.
It's not 15 years from now; it's in the next decade, easily.
Space satellites to control temperature and massive geo-engineering will be needed or it will be game over.
Climate researcher Colleen Golja took part in the first game in a series in London.
The simulation began with a meeting of a hastily convened UN committee.
The game simulated a second committee meeting and introduced further technology advances.
The game simulated a third committee meeting as the stakes increased.
- Location
- Queen Mary University of London
- Organizer
- Danielle Young, assistant professor in international relations at Leeds University
- Technology
- Solar radiation modification, which reflects some sunlight away from Earth
- Simulated meeting dates
- Present; September 2027; September 2028
- Potential regional effects
- Drying in sub-Saharan Africa and more intense tropical storms in the Atlantic
Sources
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