0477 - White Skies, Red Sunsets: The Perils and Promises of Geoengineering
Course Description
2023 saw an average global temperature increase of just over 1.5 degrees Celsius relative to the pre-Industrial baseline. As agreed to in Paris in 2015 this target was supposed to be a firm guardrail, but it looks like we are going to blow past it, an outcome that will have catastrophic consequences for our species as well as the rest of the biosphere. In light of our evident failure to reduce carbon emissions many are now looking to engineer the climate technologically in an effort to blunt some of the worst impacts of unchecked climate change. There are two broad forms these interventions can take: removing carbon from the atmosphere and reducing the amount of solar energy the earth absorbs. We will survey the most prominent examples of each of these forms, then explore the troubling ethical and political questions posed for humanity by the potential deployment of such technologies in the coming decades.
Instructor
Byron Williston is Professor of Philosophy at Laurier and a Member of the Waterloo Climate Institute. He has written widely on the climate crisis and the philosophy of technology.
Location
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Community Pavilion (101 Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo, ON)
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Parking is free.
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Download the facility map (PDF) to find facilities and parking lots.
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Check Grand River Transit for public transit locations, times and fees
Notes
- Lecture Time : 10-1130 am
- Lecture Cost: $14.00 + HST
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Participants must register for the class before the start date of the course. There will be no opportunity for purchase the day the class begins.
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Laurier’s online registration system accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Visa Debit, and MasterCard Debit.
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You will only be able to purchase 1 seat at the time of registration. If looking to register more than 1 person, each registrant will require their own account to complete the registration.
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Lectures are non-refundable
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Contact
Please email lall@wlu.ca with any questions