Can Solar Geoengineering Mitigate Extreme Climate Impacts? A Political Science Perspective

About

• This hybrid seminar features Professor Frank Biermann, one of the world’s leading scholars on global environmental governance. Drawing on his extensive research in earth system governance and institutional design, Professor Biermann will critically examine proposals for planetary-scale interventions to counter climate extremes—such as solar radiation modification—and discuss their political, ethical, and governance implications.
• The seminar invites researchers, students, and practitioners interested in climate policy, governance, and global environmental justice to reflect on alternatives to geoengineering and explore sustainable pathways for adaptation and resilience.
• The event is hybrid: Lecture hall Småland at GeoCentrum and online via Zoom.

Key Topics

• Political and institutional challenges of solar geoengineering
• Governance of planetary-scale interventions
• Risks, equity, and global justice in climate responses

Speakers

• Frank Biermann, Utrecht University
  Zennström Professor in Climate Change Leadership, Uppsala University
  Founder of the Earth System Governance Project
• Frank Biermann is a leading scholar in global sustainability governance and one of the most cited political scientists in the field of climate governance. He currently holds the Zennström Professorship in Climate Change Leadership at Uppsala University and is the founder of the Earth System Governance Project, the largest global network of social scientists in this area. 
• Biermann’s research spans planetary politics, environmental institutions, climate justice, and the ethical challenges of large-scale interventions like solar geoengineering. He has published extensively on new models of governance in the Anthropocene, with a particular focus on legitimacy, accountability, and power in global environmental policymaking. 
• He is a frequent speaker at international conferences and policy forums and has contributed to major global assessments on environmental change and governance.

Highlights

• Expert Perspective: A critical and timely analysis from a leader in planetary governance.
• Interactive Q&A: Engage directly with the speaker during the live session.
• Hybrid Format: Attend in person at Uppsala University or join online via Zoom.

Summary

• As the climate crisis intensifies, calls for bold solutions—including geoengineering—are gaining attention. But do these approaches hold up under political and ethical scrutiny? In this seminar, Professor Frank Biermann unpacks the promises and perils of solar geoengineering, offering insights from decades of research into global governance and environmental institutions.

Register

• Register latest 6th of May using the registration form.