SGRP Lunchtime Program: Going Beyond Emissions Reduction: Climate Repair
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2025, 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
HUCE Seminar Room 440, MCZ 4th Floor, 26 Oxford Street Cambridge
"Going Beyond Emissions Reduction: Climate Repair" with Dr. Shaun Fitzgerald OBE FREng, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair, Cambridge University.
Abstract: We will first briefly discuss the state of the climate, some of the recent changes, the trend in emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) levels, and importantly the trajectories which are now considered by the IPCC. We will then investigate options for following different trajectories. We will discuss the role of GHG removal and outline some of the research being undertaken to progress the field independent of carbon markets. This covers approaches for greenhouse gas removal where the co-benefits in terms of areas such as health or food may in fact drive the initial commercial interest. We then explore some of the bigger opportunities associated with Solar Radiation Modification, many of which are still in a nascent state. We describe some of the technological work underway in the field of marine cloud brightening, and introduce potential opportunities for its application in the shipping industry which is itself seeking ways to reduce its impact on the climate. We follow this by describing some of the research on Ice Thickening. This includes modelling work, laboratory experiments and outdoor field work. Finally, we will also look at some of the research on public attitudes towards geoengineering and associated research. We describe some of the work undertaken revealing cross-over of geoengineering with other topics, highlighting the importance of being aware of other conversations when considering climate repair.
Bio: Shaun Fitzgerald studied Engineering at the University of Cambridge before joining the faculty at Stanford University leading the Geothermal Program. He returned to Cambridge in 2000 and in 2006 founded and led Breathing Buildings, a low energy hybrid ventilation company. He took up the position as Director of The Royal Institution in 2018 and in 2020 was appointed Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and in early 2023 Shaun was appointed by the UNFCCC Supervisory Body to serve as a Methodologies Expert on the Roster of Experts. He was awarded an OBE in 2021.
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Abstract: We will first briefly discuss the state of the climate, some of the recent changes, the trend in emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) levels, and importantly the trajectories which are now considered by the IPCC. We will then investigate options for following different trajectories. We will discuss the role of GHG removal and outline some of the research being undertaken to progress the field independent of carbon markets. This covers approaches for greenhouse gas removal where the co-benefits in terms of areas such as health or food may in fact drive the initial commercial interest. We then explore some of the bigger opportunities associated with Solar Radiation Modification, many of which are still in a nascent state. We describe some of the technological work underway in the field of marine cloud brightening, and introduce potential opportunities for its application in the shipping industry which is itself seeking ways to reduce its impact on the climate. We follow this by describing some of the research on Ice Thickening. This includes modelling work, laboratory experiments and outdoor field work. Finally, we will also look at some of the research on public attitudes towards geoengineering and associated research. We describe some of the work undertaken revealing cross-over of geoengineering with other topics, highlighting the importance of being aware of other conversations when considering climate repair.
Bio: Shaun Fitzgerald studied Engineering at the University of Cambridge before joining the faculty at Stanford University leading the Geothermal Program. He returned to Cambridge in 2000 and in 2006 founded and led Breathing Buildings, a low energy hybrid ventilation company. He took up the position as Director of The Royal Institution in 2018 and in 2020 was appointed Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and in early 2023 Shaun was appointed by the UNFCCC Supervisory Body to serve as a Methodologies Expert on the Roster of Experts. He was awarded an OBE in 2021.
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