Duncan McLaren
@duncanmclaren.bsky.social
Independent Researcher, previously #UCLA, #Lancaster, climate politics, climate geoengineering, environmental justice.
Pinned
Duncan McLaren
@duncanmclaren.bsky.social
· Jan 23
Solar geoengineering research faces geopolitical deadlock
The permissive “science first” approach has failed, but a nondeployment deal might yet enable responsible research
www.science.org
In a new article in Science this month www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @olafcorry.bsky.social and I argue that the geopolitics of solar radiation modification (SRM) demands prior agreement on non-deployment to make space for well-governed research. (Abridged here, but still a long thread ... 2/33)
Making a bad system (offsetting) more efficient makes things worse… and here the unintended effect of validating fungibility between carbon and albedo is disastrous (as it risks legimating substitution of solar geoengineering for emissions cuts)!
Some of the climate benefits of forestry and revegetation projects are erased by the fact that they reduce the reflectivity of Earth's surface. 🧪
Accounting for albedo in carbon market protocols - Nature Communications
The paper analyzes the impact of omitting biophysical effects from carbon credits on climate mitigation. It shows that some Voluntary Carbon Market projects may result in net warming due to albedo whi...
www.nature.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Making a bad system (offsetting) more efficient makes things worse… and here the unintended effect of validating fungibility between carbon and albedo is disastrous (as it risks legimating substitution of solar geoengineering for emissions cuts)!
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
I can't emphasize this too much. Scientists who may be well intentioned and favor solar geoengineering research because "it's just research" and do not approve of deployment will not be the ones who decide whether to deploy whatever ... www.gravityisgone.com/letting-sili...
Letting Silicon Valley Geoengineer the Atmosphere Will End Badly
We already have plenty of evidence of what happens when things better left to governments — which in this case might decide to never flip the switch at all — are ceded to private industry.
www.gravityisgone.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I can't emphasize this too much. Scientists who may be well intentioned and favor solar geoengineering research because "it's just research" and do not approve of deployment will not be the ones who decide whether to deploy whatever ... www.gravityisgone.com/letting-sili...
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
So proud of this collaboration led by @cssn.org
110 top experts from around the world
13 chapters on who is blocking or slowing action on climate change
A quantum leap in our understanding of why society has failed to solve this
Will be free online Oct 14 1/x
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
110 top experts from around the world
13 chapters on who is blocking or slowing action on climate change
A quantum leap in our understanding of why society has failed to solve this
Will be free online Oct 14 1/x
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
September 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
So proud of this collaboration led by @cssn.org
110 top experts from around the world
13 chapters on who is blocking or slowing action on climate change
A quantum leap in our understanding of why society has failed to solve this
Will be free online Oct 14 1/x
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
110 top experts from around the world
13 chapters on who is blocking or slowing action on climate change
A quantum leap in our understanding of why society has failed to solve this
Will be free online Oct 14 1/x
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
This is a really good @desmog.com post on this topic btw, featuring a bunch of friendly norwegian fossil fuel people
www.desmog.com/2025/08/13/c...
www.desmog.com/2025/08/13/c...
Can AI Slash Pollution? Fossil Fuel Industry Is Investing in Boosting Oil Production, Profits Instead
DeSmog reveals that Big Oil says they’re using AI to produce more fossil fuels, while utilities are exploring how “AI agents” could take over key power grid functions.
www.desmog.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is a really good @desmog.com post on this topic btw, featuring a bunch of friendly norwegian fossil fuel people
www.desmog.com/2025/08/13/c...
www.desmog.com/2025/08/13/c...
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
If you’re worried that the world is sliding into solar geoengineering… you might want to read my new article, critiquing the loose use of “risk-risk” claims about climate intervention (#geoengineering). Brief summary and full article link here www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-f...
From Frying Pan to Fire: wrestling with the risks of solar geoengineering
Ideas of solar geoengineering are getting a lot of attention these days. Moves to ban the technology based on conspiracy theories about existing deployment have proliferated across the USA.
www.linkedin.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:38 AM
If you’re worried that the world is sliding into solar geoengineering… you might want to read my new article, critiquing the loose use of “risk-risk” claims about climate intervention (#geoengineering). Brief summary and full article link here www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-f...
Strong analysis, but still hoping that impacts will stimulate action. Unfortunately everything so far suggests that growing impacts exacerbate denial to the point that systems are too broken to take action… we need a narrative of social and ecological repair www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Democrats and climate groups ‘too polite’ in fight against ‘malevolent’ fossil fuel giants, says key senator
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island gives 300th climate speech on the US Senate floor
www.theguardian.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Strong analysis, but still hoping that impacts will stimulate action. Unfortunately everything so far suggests that growing impacts exacerbate denial to the point that systems are too broken to take action… we need a narrative of social and ecological repair www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
If you’re worried that the world is sliding into solar geoengineering… you might want to read my new article, critiquing the loose use of “risk-risk” claims about climate intervention (#geoengineering). Brief summary and full article link here www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-f...
From Frying Pan to Fire: wrestling with the risks of solar geoengineering
Ideas of solar geoengineering are getting a lot of attention these days. Moves to ban the technology based on conspiracy theories about existing deployment have proliferated across the USA.
www.linkedin.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:38 AM
If you’re worried that the world is sliding into solar geoengineering… you might want to read my new article, critiquing the loose use of “risk-risk” claims about climate intervention (#geoengineering). Brief summary and full article link here www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-f...
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
happy to profile our research in The Guardian today
Politicians are retreating from net zero because they think the public doesn’t care. But they’re wrong | Rebecca Willis
Politicians are retreating from net zero because they think the public doesn’t care. But they’re wrong | Rebecca Willis
Our research shows people are strongly in favour of measures to tackle the climate crisis. They just need to be listened to, says professor of energy and climate governance Rebecca Willis
www.theguardian.com
July 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
happy to profile our research in The Guardian today
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
Abstracted notions of equality, diversity and inclusion are almost entirely absent in plans developed by deprived communities which are more likely to focus on tangible issues of local importance such as access to affordable housing, health and service provision. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Towards everyday conceptions of justice in community-led planning
This paper draws upon a novel analytical framework to review a sample of community-led plans produced across the four nations of the United Kingdom. It explores how communities interpret issues of ...
www.tandfonline.com
July 7, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Abstracted notions of equality, diversity and inclusion are almost entirely absent in plans developed by deprived communities which are more likely to focus on tangible issues of local importance such as access to affordable housing, health and service provision. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
Oh look, tech company emissions are already up 150%, and the AI data center build out has just gotten started.
June 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Oh look, tech company emissions are already up 150%, and the AI data center build out has just gotten started.
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
AI doesn’t help you work less or get paid more, but does destroy the environment and climate.
Study looking at AI chatbots in 7,000 workplaces finds 'no significant impact on earnings or recorded hours in any occupation'
Despite AI’s promise to revolutionize white-collar work, most workers are using it sparingly—or hiding it from their boss.
fortune.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
AI doesn’t help you work less or get paid more, but does destroy the environment and climate.
I don’t know whether this says more about ordinary Brits or about YouGov. Interesting results but poorly selected and framed questions…
What geoengineering might Britons support to counter climate change?
Planting forests: 92%
Painting roads and roofs light colours: 62%
Adding carbon-capturing nutrients to the ocean: 43%
Making clouds whiter: 31%
Dimming the sun: 18%
Adding gases into stratosphere: 16%
yougov.co.uk/health/artic...
Planting forests: 92%
Painting roads and roofs light colours: 62%
Adding carbon-capturing nutrients to the ocean: 43%
Making clouds whiter: 31%
Dimming the sun: 18%
Adding gases into stratosphere: 16%
yougov.co.uk/health/artic...
May 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I don’t know whether this says more about ordinary Brits or about YouGov. Interesting results but poorly selected and framed questions…
A thoughtful analysis of the dangerous ideology behind the #geoengineering advocates of Silver Lining. cleantechnica.com/2025/05/18/s...
SilverLining’s Geoengineering Techno-Optimism Is Distracting From Real Climate Solutions - CleanTechnica
SilverLining's geoengineering advocacy reflects ecomodernist techno-optimism, diverting attention from urgent, proven climate solutions like wind and solar.
cleantechnica.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:17 AM
A thoughtful analysis of the dangerous ideology behind the #geoengineering advocates of Silver Lining. cleantechnica.com/2025/05/18/s...
Worth the read: A well researched piece from Undark on Stardust Solutions and their secretive approach to promoting #solargeoengineering undark.org/2025/03/17/s...
How One Company Wants to Make Geoengineering Profitable
Stardust, an Israeli-U.S. startup, intends to patent its unique technology for temporarily cooling the planet.
undark.org
March 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Worth the read: A well researched piece from Undark on Stardust Solutions and their secretive approach to promoting #solargeoengineering undark.org/2025/03/17/s...
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
TSA Says Its Credit Cards for Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Are Cut Off
The statement follows an alleged internal email which said requests for dog food and vet visits had been put on hold.
The statement follows an alleged internal email which said requests for dog food and vet visits had been put on hold.
TSA Says Its Credit Cards for Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Are Cut Off
The statement follows an alleged internal email which said requests for dog food and vet visits had been put on hold.
www.404media.co
March 15, 2025 at 1:48 PM
TSA Says Its Credit Cards for Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Are Cut Off
The statement follows an alleged internal email which said requests for dog food and vet visits had been put on hold.
The statement follows an alleged internal email which said requests for dog food and vet visits had been put on hold.
“There is extreme danger in launching such field trials into an environment with neither national nor international governance in place.” But well governed research into geoengineering risks would be wise. The key question is why so many SRM advocates resist effective governance for research?
You can't make this up:
The same person that has been actively keeping the public ignorant about the aerosol termination shock that we are currently experiencing, uses fear for a hypothetical future termination shock to discourage research in climate tipping point prevention..
The same person that has been actively keeping the public ignorant about the aerosol termination shock that we are currently experiencing, uses fear for a hypothetical future termination shock to discourage research in climate tipping point prevention..
March 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
“There is extreme danger in launching such field trials into an environment with neither national nor international governance in place.” But well governed research into geoengineering risks would be wise. The key question is why so many SRM advocates resist effective governance for research?
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
Our latest @CitiesAtTufts episode is here!
Listen to "From City to Sink: Urban Carbon Removal as Promise and Practice with Duncan McLaren @duncanmclaren.bsky.social at the link below or where you get your podcasts.
shareable.net/cities_tufts...
Illustration @jessemilner76
Listen to "From City to Sink: Urban Carbon Removal as Promise and Practice with Duncan McLaren @duncanmclaren.bsky.social at the link below or where you get your podcasts.
shareable.net/cities_tufts...
Illustration @jessemilner76
March 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Our latest @CitiesAtTufts episode is here!
Listen to "From City to Sink: Urban Carbon Removal as Promise and Practice with Duncan McLaren @duncanmclaren.bsky.social at the link below or where you get your podcasts.
shareable.net/cities_tufts...
Illustration @jessemilner76
Listen to "From City to Sink: Urban Carbon Removal as Promise and Practice with Duncan McLaren @duncanmclaren.bsky.social at the link below or where you get your podcasts.
shareable.net/cities_tufts...
Illustration @jessemilner76
Cities@Tufts and Shareable have put my recent talk on City CDR online - with a cute infographic version too ... www.shareable.net/cities_tufts...
March 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Cities@Tufts and Shareable have put my recent talk on City CDR online - with a cute infographic version too ... www.shareable.net/cities_tufts...
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
One to post where MAGA can see it:
March 2, 2025 at 1:10 AM
One to post where MAGA can see it:
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
It was always a mistake to try to sell CDR by promising it could decarbonize oil. People who want oil don't really care whether it's decarbonized or not.
Only a real climate politics — the one that actually phases out fossil fuels — will deliver carbon removal, expensive and challenging as it is.
Only a real climate politics — the one that actually phases out fossil fuels — will deliver carbon removal, expensive and challenging as it is.
The Trump administration's termination of probationary federal employees has devastated the Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) team. These terminations add to the uncertainty surrounding the $3.5 billion Direct Air Capture (DAC) hubs program.
Trump Hollowed Out the Government’s Carbon Removal Team
Widespread federal layoffs bring even more uncertainty to the DAC hubs program.
heatmap.news
March 2, 2025 at 1:28 AM
It was always a mistake to try to sell CDR by promising it could decarbonize oil. People who want oil don't really care whether it's decarbonized or not.
Only a real climate politics — the one that actually phases out fossil fuels — will deliver carbon removal, expensive and challenging as it is.
Only a real climate politics — the one that actually phases out fossil fuels — will deliver carbon removal, expensive and challenging as it is.
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
When I wrote in a novel, some years ago, ‘We live in the light that comes to us’ that carried within it, for me, the idea that sometimes there is very little, sometimes there is mostly darkness.
It is still our time, we do what we can.
It is still our time, we do what we can.
February 27, 2025 at 12:32 PM
When I wrote in a novel, some years ago, ‘We live in the light that comes to us’ that carried within it, for me, the idea that sometimes there is very little, sometimes there is mostly darkness.
It is still our time, we do what we can.
It is still our time, we do what we can.
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
just gonna be the thousandth person to remind you all that segregationists start the open bigotry with people they feel they can target most easily but do not end there
Wow—Trump is firing and banning all trans people from the military, per DoD memo.
“Military service by members and applicants for military service who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is incompatible with military service.”
Part of memo:
“Military service by members and applicants for military service who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is incompatible with military service.”
Part of memo:
February 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
just gonna be the thousandth person to remind you all that segregationists start the open bigotry with people they feel they can target most easily but do not end there
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
Nothing about kids dying from measles is normal. Anti-vaxxers like RFK Jr. and the Republicans who enable them are responsible for every single one of these deaths.
February 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Nothing about kids dying from measles is normal. Anti-vaxxers like RFK Jr. and the Republicans who enable them are responsible for every single one of these deaths.
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
"Our streets are now more safe. There has been a 51% decrease in injuries and a 55% decrease in crashes in the congestion relief zone compared to the same period in January 2024."
Congestion pricing makes NYC safer
Just more than a month ago, crossing the chaotic streets of Manhattan with my daughter meant taking a chance with her life, especially as she’s a toddler who would rather run free. We live in the g…
www.nydailynews.com
February 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
"Our streets are now more safe. There has been a 51% decrease in injuries and a 55% decrease in crashes in the congestion relief zone compared to the same period in January 2024."
Reposted by Duncan McLaren
There's going to be news about a woman illegally detained and being forcely removed from a Coeur d'Alene Idaho Town Hall meeting taking place at the high school by men that would not identify themselves wearing plain clothes because she opposed the republican viewpoints.
youtube.com/shorts/hhJdH...
youtube.com/shorts/hhJdH...
KCRCC Town Hall in Coeur d'Alene Idaho woman illegally detained
YouTube video by Devin Prewett
youtube.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:09 AM
There's going to be news about a woman illegally detained and being forcely removed from a Coeur d'Alene Idaho Town Hall meeting taking place at the high school by men that would not identify themselves wearing plain clothes because she opposed the republican viewpoints.
youtube.com/shorts/hhJdH...
youtube.com/shorts/hhJdH...