Saving the Arctic? Reflecting sunlight with aerosols: governance gaps and challenges
Geoeng Info
Saving the Arctic? Reflecting sunlight with aerosols: governance gaps and challenges
Arctic Circle Assembly Side Event
Friday, 15 October 2021 at 17:30-18:25 (UTC)
As the Arctic continues to warm at alarming speed with huge global consequences, a technique known as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) is being explored as a form of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), to temporarily constrain global temperature rise and reduce the increasing risks posed by the impacts of climate change. While the technique could not substitute the need for deep emissions cuts, removals and adaptation, research implies it might potentially help avoid critical climate tipping points (including those in the Arctic system), while mitigation action reaches required levels.
The theoretical technique involves aerosols being sprayed into the stratosphere, with the aim of reducing temperatures by reflecting solar radiation back into space. While it may theoretically be effective at achieving global cooling, the technique faces large uncertainties, risks and knowledge gaps as well as constraints to its deployment relating to governance, ethics, and sustainable development.
At present, there is a low level of international awareness around this technique, the potential environmental, social and security risks it may present or help avoid, and how to weigh the risks of its exploration or deployment against the risks of ignoring or banning it altogether. Comprehensive international frameworks to govern SAI are lacking and there is an urgent need for inclusive and transparent discussions to ensure effective governance so that any research, testing or potential use of such a technique could be steered in a collectively desirable direction.
Join the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) at our side-event at the Arctic Circle Assembly exploring a matrix of challenging questions like: What is SAI all about and who decides – if, when, how – it might one day be tested, developed or used? with our panel of expert speakers.
Learn more about C2G’s work on the Arctic here.