NIGK25000U Geoengineering

Volume 2026/2027
Education

MSc Programme in Climate Change

MSc Programme in Geography

Content


Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth's natural systems to counteract climate change. In 2024, the global mean temperature passed 1.5 degree C warming relative to pre-industrial times.  In order to not exceed the long-term 1.5 C target by year 2100 set in the Paris Agreement, some kinds of Geoengineering may be unavoidable. Could existing technologies work at scale. This course introduces various proposals within the two major categories: Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) aimed at cooling the planet either by reflecting more solar energy back to space (solar geoengineering) or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to directly counter global warming and ocean acidification (negative emissions). Existing technologies will be introduced focusing on concepts, potential, side effects, costs, tech readiness as well as governance and ethical aspects. The impact and risks of various climate mitigation proposals will be assessed in relation to forecast models for future climate change (the IPCC report). Will any of the proposed technologies be sufficient for humanity to steward Earth's climate system in a sustainable manner in the future? 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • Whether some kind of Geoengineering is unavoidable
  • What are the major geoengineering strategies
  • Basic principles of SRM and CDR mechanisms
  • Carbon Dioxide Removal processes including afforestation, biochar, bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS), direct air capture, ocean fertilisation, enhanced weathering, ocean alkalinity enhancement and soil carbon sequestration.
  • Solar Radiation Management processes including albedo enhancement, space reflectors and stratospheric aerosols.

 

Skills

  • Demonstrate understanding of the governing parameters in Earth's climate system.
  • Back-of-the-envelope calculations
  • Assess the advantages and disadvantages of various climate mitigation proposals.
  • Assess cost-benefit of proposed technologies.

 

Competences

  • Ability to explain the concepts of geoengineering and why some large-scale interventions are unavoidable (in addition to reducing emissions)
  • Be familiar with existing climate mitigation proposals.
  • Appreciating limitations to various SRM and CDR technologies.
  • Evaluate what are the next steps forward

Students will read primary scientific literature and reports. See Absalon for a list of course litterature.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended. Basic calculation skills equivalent to Danish High school level B is recommended (these are used for comparison of energy consumptions, CO2 emissions, and costs).
Weekly lectures and exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 146
  • Exercises
  • 28
  • Field Work
  • 4
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 min
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
Each student writes an essay (ca. 5 pages) within an aspect of geoengineering during the course. Deadline for submission is Monday 9 AM in the week before the exam week.

Oral exam is 30 min (no preparation) and will address the curriculum and the essay topic.

Final grade is given by a combination of the oral and written exam, where the oral exam counts 67% and the essay counts 33%.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed (see description below)

The oral exam: No aids allowed. 
The essay: All aids allowed.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Re-exam

Identical to the ordinary exam.

If an essay has been submitted originally, then this also counts during the re-exam. If an essay has not been submitted, then a new essay topic is given approximately 4 weeks prior to the oral exam. It must be handed in no later than two weeks before the re-exam.

It is the student's responsibility to contact the course responsible in sufficient time to agree on a new essay topic.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome.