Penn Climate Executive Director Stephen Decina spoke on a panel promoting a Drexel University film about the future of climate technology.
The documentary, called “Plan C for Civilization,” was created by Drexel assistant professor Ben Kalina and screened on May 26. Decina — who serves as Penn’s inaugural executive director of climate science, policy, and action — spoke alongside Drexel professors about the role of solar geoengineering in cooling the planet.
The film follows University of Chicago professor David Keith, who analyzed “controversial” solar geoengineering technology, as well as the creators of Make Sunsets, a Silicon Valley startup that deploys the technology.
It also featured an appearance by Michael Mann, Director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media, who spoke about solar geoengineering.
Kalina — who has spent over 10 years working on the documentary — told The Daily Pennsylvanian that he valued a “range of perspectives” when selecting the event’s panelists.
“I wanted to have people on the panel from both Drexel and Penn because I think it’s really important,” Kalina said. “These two universities are right next to each other, and there’s so little interaction between students, faculty, and so forth, that I really like building those connections.”
Decina told the DP that the event was a “great opportunity to make some good connections with Drexel.”
“Penn has very specific strengths that are complementary to strengths that Drexel or other universities might have,” he added.
In the panel following the screening, Decina — who previously served in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State — discussed the political challenges associated with climate change adaptation and solar geoengineering.
“I saw how often you heard folks keep saying, ‘If we do things like this, it’s going to let the fossil fuel companies and the petrostates off the hook, and they’re just going to keep emitting,’” Decina said.
Kalina said that he wanted attendees to leave the screening thinking, “that’s a crazy idea, but actually I want to know more about it.”
“What’s really powerful about this idea is that it can really reengage people with a sense of agency,” Kalina added. “‘Maybe I don’t like this idea,’ but it suggests that there are still cards to play. There are still things to explore, and it maybe energizes people to get involved in many different ways in trying to find solutions.”
Tuesday’s screening is the first of three events to take place in Philadelphia for the film.
