Geoengineering in the Political Sphere: Congressional Hearings, 2009 - 2017

• In Event: 2251 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 16. Framing of Environmental Issues

Abstract

Geoengineering, the notion of employing large-scale technological projects to counter the effects of climate change, has been moving from the margins toward increasingly mainstream scientific and political consideration. While some sociological studies have considered the discourses around geoengineering within scientific and journalistic fields, limited analysis has been given to relevant political discourse. This paper presents an analysis of political discourse around geoengineering through empirical examination of all relevant Congressional hearings to date. As demonstrated through four congressional hearings on the subject, it is found that geoengineering has garnered political support from both major political parties in the United States, but for distinct reasons and with very different interpretations of the role it might have to play in climate policy. Political deliberation over geoengineering adds a new layer of the politicization of climate change.

Author

• Brynna A. Jacobson