[geo] Convention on Biological Diversity Subsidiary Group Recommends Geoengineering Moratorium

[Josh]

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice
(SBSTTA) has recommended that the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP)
adopt a general moratorium on geoengineering activities at its meeting
this October. Here is the formal text:

(w) [Ensure, in line and consistent with decision IX/16 C, on ocean
fertilization and biodiversity and climate change, and in accordance
with the precautionary approach, that no climate-related geo-
engineering activities take place until there is an adequate
scientific basis on which to justify such activities and appropriate
consideration of the associated risks for the environment and
biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural impacts;]

It is not, however, a foregone conclusion that the COP will adopt this
recommendation.

http://cdn.www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/sbstta/sbstta-14/in-session/sbstta-14-L-09-en.pdf


Josh Horton
joshuah...@gmail.com

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[Ken Caldeira]

At the very least they need to narrow the scope of what they are talking about.

"Climate-related geoengineering activities" seems horribly under-defined.

Does an activity need to be "geoengineering" in order for it to be a "geoengineering activity"? Does a field test aimed at getting information relevant to geoengineering  that is not in itself geoengineering count as a "geoengineering activity"?

If so, does me writing this email count as a "climate-related geoengineering activity"?

Where are the boundaries and who determines them?

Is the Convention on Biological Diversity the vehicle to govern experiments that pose no threat to biological diversity (and indeed may provide information that helps maintain biodiversity [e.g., help stave off loss of Arctic ecosystems] )?




___________________________________________________
Ken Caldeira

Carnegie Institution Dept of Global Ecology
260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305 USA

kcal...@carnegie.stanford.edu
http://dge.stanford.edu/DGE/CIWDGE/labs/caldeiralab
+1 650 704 7212; fax: +1 650 462 5968