Ken etal: Since we are still offering modifications today, let me try an alternative approach, defining exclusions rather than inclusions. This removes a comparative and the word "not". This still keeps I think your intent and much of your language (although I returned to "removal" rather than "reduction"). Following the recommendation from Jim Thomas, this starts off with the CBD definition (which I like - and solves the UN problem Jim points out). The new CBD start is a longer version of your point #1, which (below: "intended to affect climate") could replace it
“Geoengineering" is 1) a deliberate intervention in the planetary environment of a nature and scale intended to counteract anthropogenic climate change and its impacts, but 2) excluding those interventions that are a direct consequence of the removal of anthropogenic aerosols and/or greenhouse gas concentrations., if 3) they have a de minimis effect on an international commons or across international borders. The new "if" between 2) and 3) [which are re-ordered] is intended to keep as a geoengineering approach any CDR approach that has a potentially large impact outside of a single country. I think "if" was your intent. I couldn't make "and" or "or" (instead of "if") cover weird cases. So some CDR cases are still geoengineering. A large positive effect in the commons or boundary is covered by the words "intended to counteract". Ron On Sep 26, 2013, at 3:43 AM, Ken Caldeira <kcalde...@carnegiescience.edu> wrote: > Self-correction. > > Dave Hawkins was right. > > Modify climate must be understood as a counter-factual. The intent might be > to prevent climate from changing in the face of rising greenhouse gas > concentrations, so "(1) intent to modify climate" must be understood as > relative to what it would have been in the absence of the geoengineering > activity, i.e., a geoengineering activity could conceivably prevent climate > from changing relative to a factual baseline but still be a climate > modification relative to what would have happened absent the activity. > > So, a mitigation activity that reduces GHG emissions would then need to be > interpreted as excluded under (3) which then would also need to be > interpreted as what would have happened absent the action. > > Is there any problem with changing (1) to "intended to affect climate" or us > it clearer to leave its as "intended to modify climate" where that is > understood relative to a counterfactual baseline? [RWL: I am not answering > this - as I think the existing CBD (maybe only UN) definition covers this > question.] > >> "Geoengineering" refers to activities >> >> (1) intended to affect climate >> >> (2) and that have a greater than de minimis effect on an international >> commons or across international borders >> >> (3) and where that greater than de minimis effect occurs through >> environmental mechanisms that are not a direct consequence of any resulting >> reduction in anthropogenic aerosol and/or greenhouse gas concentrations. >> >> >> >> >>> <snip> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.