Geoengineering Discourse Confronting Climate Change

Geoengineering, the idea of addressing climate change through large-scale technological projects, is a unique example of a contested emerging technology. It stands out in the degree to which both its scope of possibilities and its premise are characterized by global existential risks. Despite controversy, this field has been shifting toward mainstream consideration. Geoengineering Discourse Confronting Climate Change: The Move from Margins to Mainstream in Science, News Media, and Politics examines the trajectory of geoengineering through critical discourse analysis of three key genres: science policy reports, news media journalism, and congressional hearings. Brynna Jacobson explores how science policy reports from distinguished scientific societies have constructed certain notions of legitimacy around geoengineering as well as how narratives within news coverage have shaped the public discourse and understanding of geoengineering. The book further demonstrates that geoengineering has garnered political support from both major political parties in the United States. Through analysis of discursive conventions within these genres, the author reveals the evolution of notions of normalcy, legitimacy, and imperative around the field of geoengineering.