Activism and Neoliberalism: Two Sides of Geoengineering Discourse

ABSTRACT

The paper provides a comparative, critical discourse-driven analysis of activism for and against climate engineering. Arguments in support of this approach to climate remediation are quintessentially neoliberal and can be found in discourses that fetishize entrepreneurialism, support a market driven ideology, and amplify creative destruction. They stand in contrast with the ways in which geoengineering is framed by activists and their organizations. The overall objective of this piece is to engage in and unpack the discursive frames behind what is a significant site of contestation over how to address climate change and map out the practices and sites of resistance to climate engineering as they come up against well-funded campaigns in support of its use.

KEYWORDS:

• Geoengineering
• discourse
• climate change
• neoliberalism

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 It is important to note that while there are substantive political and ideological differences between, for example, Bill Gates and the AEI—on the subject of technologically driven, market-based solutions to climate change they hold comparable positions.

2 The moratorium does make caveats for small-scale testing and has weak enforcement mechanisms.