*Request for Public Comments:*
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy <https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/legal/> (OSTP), in coordination with relevant Federal agencies, was directed by Congress to develop a five-year “scientific assessment of solar and other rapid climate interventions in the context of near-term climate risks and hazards. The report shall include: 1. the definition of goals in relevant areas of scientific research; 2. capabilities required to model, analyze, observe, and monitor atmospheric composition; 3. climate impacts and the Earth's radiation budget; and 4. the coordination of Federal research and investments to deliver this assessment to manage near-term climate risk and research in climate intervention. OSTP recognizes the importance of this research topic. With the assistance of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, OSTP is offering a brief comment period to enable public input while also providing a timely response to Congress. The focus of this plan will be on research associated with climate intervention, and comments are being requested in that context only. Input should be narrative only (i.e., no figures, graphics, or attachments), should be limited to 1,000 words, should respond to the Congressional direction above, and should relate either to one of the four categories listed in legislative language or more generally to climate intervention research. Input must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on September 9, 2022. Posted, Aug 19, 2022 Open Notice, https://www.globalchange.gov/content/request-input-five-year-climate-intervention-research-plan Individuals interested in submitting comment should visit contribute.globalchange.gov *HPAC Submission* Healthy Planet Action Coalition USGCRP RCI Comment The Healthy Planet Action Coalition is a diverse international group of scientists, engineers, technologists, and public policy experts active in relevant fields spanning all aspects of climate change. We are united by a determined and informed optimism that a threefold approach can prevent climate catastrophes and restore a more benevolent climate. We call this approach “The Climate Triad”. The Climate Triad of Direct Climate Cooling (DCC), GHG Emissions Reductions, and Greenhouse Gas Removal (GHGR) works as a complementary system to stabilize and moderate the climate and ultimately restore a safe, healthy, and sustainable planet. Creating this system requires a collaborative, inclusive, and expedited research program with a priority focus on direct climate cooling. HPAC offers these recommendations for the development of such a program. (1) The definition of goals in relevant areas of scientific research The Healthy Planet Action Coalition calls on the White House to set direct climate cooling, greenhouse gas removal and emission reduction as co-equal priorities. An overall goal of keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C could be achieved by a primary focus in this decade on cooling technologies to increase planetary albedo, cut radiative forcing, and implement other methods for direct climate cooling. Urgent direct climate cooling is now necessary to reduce current and near term human and other species harm and risk from current and near term future levels of global warming. Due to this urgency, we ask that the proposed five year research and implementation plan, depending on the method, be accelerated to one or two years. The following is a menu of proposed climate cooling approaches that we suggest merit early consideration and responsible investigation with actions that can be monitored and reported on: - Buoyant Flakes - Cirrus cloud thinning - Fizz Tops (Fiztops) - Ice Shields to thicken polar ice - Iron salt aerosol (ISA) - Making building and paving material more reflective and planting trees in urban areas. - Marine algal bloom stimulation - Marine cloud brightening - Mirrors for Earth's Energy Rebalancing (MEER) - Ocean thermal energy conversion - Restoring natural upwelling and kelp forest ecosystem services offshore - Restoring soil and vegetation - Seawater atomization (Seatomizers) - Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) - Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) Short summaries for most of these methods written or reviewed by climate cooling experts cited in the document are available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TowThwi6j6cX3iLGBRrj22D30cYhKa_9/edit Relevant scientific research on direct climate cooling methods and technologies currently being conducted include marine cloud brightening, stratospheric aerosol injection, sea-ice freezing, ocean thermal energy conversion, ocean and glacier microspheres, terrestrial and atmospheric mirrors, cirrus cloud thinning, iron salt aerosols, and white reflective rooftops and streets. Refreezing the poles should be a global climate priority in support of national and international security, biodiversity protection, and reducing extreme weather and sea level rise. US encouragement of COP27 in Cairo to set goals on albedo and biodiversity would sharpen research priorities. (2) Capabilities required to model, analyze, observe, and monitor atmospheric composition A direct climate cooling program will require major capabilities in atmospheric science, enabling scientific experts to provide direct advice to government and industry on priorities and findings. Modeling, analysis, observation and monitoring of the atmosphere must guide climate intervention priorities and programs. Research, testing and deployment strategies require high level scientific skills in universities, supported by public and private investment. A way to encourage investment in cooling expertise is to introduce direct climate cooling credits as a more immediate climate offset than carbon credits. Coordination of atmospheric science with governance systems is essential to enforce ethical standards, ensure safety and consultation through transparent and accountable planning and delivery, and link with international diplomacy on programs such as refreezing the Arctic. (3) Climate impacts and the Earth's radiation budget A focus on cooling technology is the best way to mitigate climate impacts and improve the Earth’s radiation budget in the near term, alongside ongoing work on emission reduction and GHG removal as they take effect over the longer-term. The best overall measure of climate impacts is radiative forcing, the excess of incoming over outgoing radiation at the top of the atmosphere. Government and private funds should be applied to methods that most effectively cut radiative forcing. Augmenting the current carbon credit system with a system of direct climate cooling credits would better cost the temperature impact of emission reduction, greenhouse gas removal and direct cooling technology. (4) Coordination of Federal research and investments to deliver this assessment to manage near-term climate risk and research in climate intervention. The USA should coordinate with other nations to develop a cooperative international program to refreeze the Arctic Ocean. Domestic US resources should be mobilized to support coordinated global and regional climate cooling. Arctic Amplification (with up to four times the temperature rise of the equator) and the role of Arctic sea-ice in regulating climate through the jet stream and ocean currents make the Arctic Circle the most serious planetary warming risk and cooling priority. Substantial cooling of the Arctic must be complemented by similar cooling of the Antarctic to achieve a stable global climate benefit. Ongoing disruption of these planetary systems is a major climate security risk, whereas action to reverse the disruption has benefits for peacebuilding, biodiversity and mitigation of warming. Climate security should be integrated with military security as part of national strategic priority setting and risk assessment. Diplomacy through the Arctic Council and COP27 and other relevant international bodies should engage on the urgency of cooling the pole, laying a foundation for the USA to work with other interested governments to test and deploy methods that will help reverse the current warming trend. Coordinated research and investment can be promoted by the USA taking a strong stance at COP27 and in other relevant international forums in favor of assessing direct cooling technology and refreezing the Arctic Ocean. -- 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 [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/geoengineering/CAPhUB9AtiHkp7VHdDJBqBDG2DJAyOJ%2BJh5J%2BnmWQyY4TVoecpw%40mail.gmail.com.
