Could lessons from medical research ethics inform better conversations and governance for climate engineering research

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44168-025-00333-3

Authors: Shaun D. Fitzgerald, Albert Van Wijngaarden, Ramit Debnath & Zoe Fritz 

19 January 2026

Abstract 

Conversations about climate engineering are difficult to have in many spaces. While public debate deserves exploration, we focus on the difficulties scientific discussions around climate engineering face. For inspiration on how to improve this contested space we turn specifically to the history of controversial medical research. Some ways to move forward might consist of establishing an oversight mechanism, defining boundaries and introducing a specialised review system.

Source: Nature Portfolio