Climate Engineering Field Research: The Favorable Setting of International Environmental Law

Washington and Lee Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, Vol. 5 No.2, pp. 417-486 (2014)

71 Pages Posted: 17 Sep 2013 Last revised: 7 Sep 2014

See all articles by Jesse L Reynolds

Jesse L Reynolds

University of California, Los Angeles School of Law; Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law, Utrecht University School of Law

Date Written: April 1, 2014

Abstract

As forecasts for climate change and its impacts have become more dire, climate engineering proposals have come under increasing consideration and are presently moving toward field trials. This article examines the relevant international environmental law, distinguishing between climate engineering research and deployment. It also emphasizes the climate change context of these proposals and the enabling function of law. Extant international environmental law generally favors such field tests, in large part because, even though field trials may present uncertain risks to humans and the environment, climate engineering may reduce the greater risks of climate change. Notably, this favorable legal setting is present in those multilateral environmental agreements whose subject matter is closest to climate engineering. This favorable legal setting is also, in part, due to several relevant multilateral environmental agreements that encourage scientific research and technological development, along with the fact that climate engineering research is consistent with principles of international environmental law. Existing international law, however, imposes some procedural duties on States who are responsible for climate engineering field research as well as a handful of particular prohibitions and constraints.

Keywords: climate change, climate engineering, geoengineering, international environmental law

Suggested Citation

Reynolds, Jesse L, Climate Engineering Field Research: The Favorable Setting of International Environmental Law (April 1, 2014). Washington and Lee Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, Vol. 5 No.2, pp. 417-486 (2014) , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2326913

Jesse L Reynolds (Contact Author)

University of California, Los Angeles School of Law ( email )

385 Charles E. Young Dr. East
Room 1242
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1476
United States

Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law, Utrecht University School of Law ( email )

3508 TC Utrecht
Utrecht
Netherlands

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