Geoengineering: Methods, Associated Risks and International Liability

Abstract

Climate change arguably constitutes one of the greatest risks to the long-term health of the world’s environment. In 2015, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted that the Earth’s climate system has consistently been warming since the 1950s and that a “large fraction of anthropogenic climate change resulting from CO2 emissions is irreversible on a multi-century to millennial time scale, except in the case of a large net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere over a sustained period”. Initial responses to climate change revolved around States attempting to reduce, rather than remove, greenhouse gas emissions. However, as the global economy expands, greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise and cooperative arrangements aimed at reducing emissions have had limited, if any, impact. If recent predictions are to be believed, the remaining “carbon budget” needed to prevent average global temperatures from increasing by more than 1.5 °C may be exhausted by 2030. Climate Analytics estimates that the current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) made by States under the Paris Agreement indicate that average global temperatures will rise by 2.8 °C by 2100—almost double the stipulated efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels mentioned in Article 2(1)(a) of the Paris Agreement. The recent IPCC Special Report on 1.5 °C Global Warming concludes that without “increased and urgent mitigation ambition in the coming years, leading to a sharp decline in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, global warming will [cause] irreversible loss of the most fragile ecosystems and crisis after crisis for the most vulnerable people and societies”.

Guide to Best Practices in Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Research

“…A wide body of literature has analyzed the application of existing international legal frameworks to OAE and other ocean CDR techniques (see, for example, Proelss and Steenkamp, 2023;Scott, 2023;Webb et al, 2021;Brent et al, 2019;GESAMP, 2019;Du, 2023;McGee et al, 2018;Armeni and Redgwell, 2015;Lloyd and Oppenheimer, 2014;Kuokkanen and Yamineva, 2013;Scott, 2013). Applicable international law includes the customary https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2-oae2023-10-2023 State Planet, 2-oae2023, 10, 2023…”

“…The ultimate aim of the UNFCCC is to stabilize "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the global climate system" (Article 2, UNFCCC). Numerous studies have noted that the UNFCCC regime, including the Paris Agreement, approve the use of CDR approaches to mitigate climate change (see Honegger et al, 2021;Craik and Burns, 2019;Brent et al, 2019;Proelss and Steenkamp, 2023;NASEM, 2022). The reason for this finding is linked to the fact that State parties are required to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including by protecting and enhancing sinks (Article 4(2)(a), UNFCCC).…”

Legal considerations relevant to research on ocean alkalinity enhancement

“…A wide body of literature has analyzed the application of existing international legal frameworks to OAE and other ocean CDR techniques (see, for example, Proelss and Steenkamp, 2023;Scott, 2023;Webb et al, 2021;Brent et al, 2019;GESAMP, 2019;Du, 2023;McGee et al, 2018;Armeni and Redgwell, 2015;Lloyd and Oppenheimer, 2014;Kuokkanen and Yamineva, 2013;Scott, 2013). Applicable international law includes the customary The Area Seabed and ocean floor (including its subsoil) that are beyond the limits of national jurisdiction…”

“…The ultimate aim of the UNFCCC is to stabilize "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the global climate system" (Article 2, UNFCCC). Numerous studies have noted that the UNFCCC regime, including the Paris Agreement, approve the use of CDR approaches to mitigate climate change (see Honegger et al, 2021;Craik and Burns, 2019;Brent et al, 2019;Proelss and Steenkamp, 2023;NASEM, 2022). The reason for this finding is linked to the fact that State parties are required to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including by protecting and enhancing sinks (Article 4(2)(a), UNFCCC).…”

Impact of Regional Pressure Dissipation on Carbon Capture and Storage Projects: A Comprehensive Review

“…While CCS holds great promise, its widespread adoption demands rigorous investigation into its potential impacts on various geological, environmental, and operational aspects. Of particular concern is the regional pressure dissipation impact resulting from the injection and storage of large volumes of CO2 in geological formations [15]. Process of sequestering CO2 in deep saline aquifers [16].…”