Sleepwalking into lock-in? Avoiding wrongs to future people in the governance of solar radiation management research

McKinnon, C. (2019) Sleepwalking into lock-in? Avoiding wrongs to future people in the governance of solar radiation management research. Environmental Politics, 38 (3). pp. 441-459. ISSN 1743-8934 doi: 10.1080/09644016.2018.1450344

Abstract/Summary

This paper argues for two ways in which we can avoid the reckless endangerment of future people in the governance of solar radiation management (SRM) research, which could happen through lock-in to SRM deployment from research. SRM research is at an early stage, one at which the mechanisms of lock-in could start to operate. However, lock-in fit to endanger future people could be slowed or stopped through targeted governance. This paper argues that governance of SRM research that does not include provisions to detect, slow, or stop lock-in fails the test of an intergenerationally adequate precautionary principle, and that research governed without these provisions cannot itself be justified as a precaution against the impacts of climate change.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/75043
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/09644016.2018.1450344
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Politics, Economics and International Relations > Politics and International Relations
Publisher	Taylor and Francis
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