Planting a stance: food security in solar geoengineering discourse

Abstract

In order to reduce the impacts of climate change, Solar Geoengineering (SGE) is a technology proposed to reduce impacts of climate change, without the need for CO2 intake. SGE is a largely contested technology and prediction of its impact are contentious, including its expected impact on food security.

This study investigated different conceptualisations of food security within SGE debates. Through discourse analysis of 30 texts, 3 storylines were established, being a) food security is not significantly addressed, b) food security will improve under SGE and c) food security will worsen under SGE. The storylines were largely differentiated in their understandings of food security, impacts, and agents. Material and ideational power each storyline and their attached actors and practices was investigated. Material power was lacking overall, however there were distinct differences in how ideational power was attributed to each group.