A top scientist from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that the organization is investigating climate engineering amidst growing concerns over inadequate global emission reductions. Andrea Hinwood, UNEP’s chief scientist, characterized geographical engineering methods, such as solar radiation management (SRM), as speculative and ineffective at addressing the root causes of climate change. Recent workshops revealed tensions among participants, some of whom critiqued UNEP for focusing too heavily on technical solutions while ignoring social and ethical implications.
Critics, including climate researchers, warned that such a focus might lead to a “moral hazard,” allowing governments to reduce their efforts in cutting emissions. The workshops sparked debates on the risks of large-scale geoengineering, with concerns about governance and potential misuse by authoritarian regimes.
International guidelines already exist that regulate geoengineering, but many scientists advocate for a moratorium on such technologies due to their unpredictable impacts. Despite findings that SRM could lead to severe ecological disruptions, including altered rainfall patterns and ongoing ocean acidification, there is a call for stringent oversight of these experimental technologies.
Overall, many experts emphasize that genuine climate solutions must prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions rather than relying on unproven technological interventions.
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