Ok Doomer! SRM and Catastrophic Risk Podcast

By Gideon Futerman @ 2022-08-20T12:22 (+10)

This is a linkpost to https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KJv7kQKwxadWALrXQrTnJ?si=LfJXeNTSRbuPV_ZD9loT2w&utm_source=copy-link

I recently interviewed Aaron Tang on his paper "A Fate Worse than Warming? Stratospheric Aerosol Injection and Existential Risk" for the Reviewer 2 Does Geoengineering Podcast. It is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many other places where you get your podcasts!

We discuss SRM (solar geoengineering)and GCRs/X-Risks and Aaron's paper in depth for nearly 2 hours, discussing different frameworks for viewing GCRs and X-Risks, systemic risk, latent risk, why I think Aaron is wrong on Nuclear War and SRM, SRM and space weather, cascading and combining risks, why the paper's title is irresponsible, and even start talking about longtermism. A lot of the ideas we discuss may also be relevant for people interested in X-Risks in general rather than just SRM specifically, in particular because the paper takes a somewhat non-orthodox approach to characterising GCRs. 

I think the podcast should be a pretty interesting listen for anyone  interested in SRM (solar geoengineering) and GCRs/X-Risks, given this is the first podcast on the topic (as far as I know), and involves two of the few researchers who actually work on SRM and GCRs/X-Risks.  I hope it gives you an enjoyable dive into some of the early work going on in this important and neglected area of study for people concerned about X-Risks. I also think it should give a good overview of how complex some of the issues are when trying to think about climate change and SRM and their interaction with GCRs. 

The official podcast description is: 

"Could SRM trigger a catastrophe that kills billions? Aaron Tang and Gideon Futurman treat this subject with the seriousness you'd expect from Reviewer 2, as they giggle their way through the episode like a couple of drunken, potty-mouthed schoolgirls. " 

If that doesn't make you want to listen, I don't know what will! Hope you enjoy!