Geoengineering

Written December, 2013
Geoengineering

Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale manipulation of environmental processes to combat global warming. It involves two types of processes – carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Management (SRM). SRM, the more controversial prospect, is a form of climate modification that reduces the amount of sun hitting the earth’s surface. Sulfate Aerosol Geoengineering (SAG-SRM) would inject the stratosphere with aerosols and could be done at such a reasonable cost ($8 million per year) that it’s possible one nation could take action for the entire planet. Whether used locally or globally, adopting a SAG policy would have long-term and far reaching consequences. One nation’s policy decision could immediately and adversely affect another country’s economic well-being as well as affect human health over both the short and long term. What legal, ethical, and moral issues are raised by deliberate manipulation of the world’s climate system? We should ask ourselves the following questions:

Does playing with the climate reinforce dangerous ideas about man’s dominance over nature?
Do these methods merely buy us time, without actually solving the problem for future generations?
Does allowing geoengineering research to proceed make emissions cutbacks seem less urgent?
Cost estimates for geoengineering put it within reach of many governments and large corporations. Who has the right to manipulate the world’s climate? What sort of consensus needs to be reached in order to move forward? How can we prevent a rouge nation or company from embarking on their own geoengineering projects?
There will be costs to some people (crop losses, monsoons, etc.) – how do we decide who pays that cost? Who is responsible for the wellbeing of the people harmed by geoengineering projects?
Do we have the responsibility to pursue all avenues (including geoengineering) to halt the effects of climate change?
Governments are less willing to fund the research than the private sector. What concerns are raised by possibly leaving geoengineering in the hands of the private sector?