Geoengineering body suggests research discussions

The Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative, a leading geoengineering body, has stated that more talks need to be held in the sector to determine the risks and benefits. Alex Blackburne reports.  

A report by the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) has recommended that increased dialogue needs to take place in the geoengineering sector, in order to determine the risks and benefits of the climate change preventing technique.

Geoengineering is the manipulation of the Earth’s environment in an attempt to reduce the effects of global warming.

The SRMGI was formed when the Royal Society, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) joined forces in March 2010.

Since then, it has aimed “to ensure that geoengineering research is conducted in a manner that is responsible, transparent and environmentally sound”.

Steve Hamburg, chief scientist for EDF and co-chair of SRMGI, explained how Solar Radiation Management, the notion of reflecting sunlight back into space, should be given some intense thought by governments and scientists.

“Solar Radiation Management might sound, at first, like something from science fiction – but it’s not”, he said.

“There are already serious discussions beginning about it, and that’s why we felt it was urgent to create this governance initiative.

“Solar Radiation management could be a ‘Plan B’ to address climate change, but first we must figure out how to research it safely. Only then should we even consider any other steps.”

Geoengineering is the third stage of MAG, “the integration of Mitigation, Adaptation and Geoengineering into one unified and coherent policy which addresses both national and international concerns”.

It is now considered by many to be too late to mitigate, or prevent, climate change, so adaptation and in particular, geoengineering, is a way forward in terms of reducing the impacts of a global rise in temperatures.

If you would like to find out more about investing in climate change preventing technology, ask your financial adviser, if you have one, or complete our online form and we’ll connect you with a specialist ethical adviser.

Picture source: DonkeyHotey