Statement of Task

An ad hoc committee will conduct a technical evaluation of a limited number of proposed geoengineering techniques, including examples of both solar radiation management (SRM) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) techniques, and comment generally on the potential impacts of deploying these technologies, including possible environmental, economic, and national security concerns. The study will:
Evaluate what is currently known about the science of several (3-4) selected example techniques, including potential risks and consequences,
Describe what is known about the viability for implementation of the proposed techniques including technological and cost considerations,
Briefly explain other geoengineering technologies that have been proposed (beyond the selected examples), and
Identify future research needed to provide a credible scientific underpinning for future discussions.

The study will also discuss historical examples of related technologies (e.g., cloud seeding and other weather modification) for lessons that might be learned about societal reactions, as well as examine what international agreements exist which may be relevant to the experimental testing or deployment of geoengineering technologies.