Geoengineering, once confined to the periphery of climate crisis discussions, has started to enter the mainstream discourse, creating a dangerous distraction for decision-makers from the real climate solutions that can and must be implemented today.
Defined as the “deliberate intervention in the planetary environment of a nature and scale intended to counteract anthropogenic climate change and its impacts,” geoengineering encompasses an array of highly speculative technical “fixes” to the climate crisis. None of these address the root causes of rising global temperatures, and all pose significant new risks to the fragile ecosystems that are our best allies in the fight to prevent climate breakdown.
“The Risk of Geoengineering: Accelerating Biodiversity Loss and Compounding Planetary Crises,” explores the biodiversity impacts of some of the most commonly discussed geoengineering approaches and how, rather than tackling the climate crisis, geoengineering could exacerbate it. It also highlights the human rights consequences of going down this path, debunks some common myths around geoengineering, and sets out a series of recommendations for States.
Posted on October 16, 2024