International Governance of Solar Radiation Management: Does the ENMOD Convention Deserve a Closer Look? Authors: Jeffrey McGee, Kerryn Brent, Jan McDonald and Clare Heyward

U. of Adelaide Law Research Paper No. 2021-19

McGee, J. , Brent, K. , McDonald, J. , & Heyward, C. International Governance of Solar Radiation Management: Does the ENMOD Convention Deserve a Closer Look? Carbon & Climate Law Review Volume 14, Issue 4 (2021) pp. 294 - 305

12 Pages Posted: 18 Mar 2021 Last revised: 26 Mar 2021

See all articles by Jeffrey McGee

Jeffrey McGee

University of Tasmania - Faculty of Law

Kerryn Brent

University of Adelaide - Law School

Date Written: March 18, 2021

Abstract

Anthropogenic climate change has warmed the planet to over 1°C above pre-industrial levels. The biophysical and social impacts of this warming are taking hold, with sea-level rise, melting of polar ice, more extreme weather events, drought, and wildfire. Solar radiation management (SRM) technologies are a set of ideas for increasing the reflectivity of the earth at various scales to offset the effects of anthropogenic climate change. The most ambitious SRM idea involves injecting aerosols into the atmosphere to cool the planet on a global scale. However, regional-scale SRM ideas are also being
investigated to lessen climate impacts at regional and local scales. International governance of SRM research and development is a key issue for managing risk and building social license for these technologies. Despite this, there has been very limited international legal and institutional development on SRM. It may therefore be better to start working with existing rules and institutions of international law than wait for significant new treaty development to govern the issue. This article examines the potential of the ENMOD Convention - an overlooked Cold War arms control treaty on the use of
environmental modification technologies - to contribute to international governance of SRM.

Keywords: Solar Radiation Management, ENMOD Convention

JEL Classification: K32

Suggested Citation

McGee, Jeffrey and Brent, Kerryn, International Governance of Solar Radiation Management: Does the ENMOD Convention Deserve a Closer Look? Authors: Jeffrey McGee, Kerryn Brent, Jan McDonald and Clare Heyward (March 18, 2021). U. of Adelaide Law Research Paper No. 2021-19, McGee, J. , Brent, K. , McDonald, J. , & Heyward, C. International Governance of Solar Radiation Management: Does the ENMOD Convention Deserve a Closer Look? Carbon & Climate Law Review Volume 14, Issue 4 (2021) pp. 294 - 305 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3806914

Jeffrey McGee

University of Tasmania - Faculty of Law ( email )

Private Bag 89
Hobart
Tasmania, 7001
Australia

Kerryn Brent (Contact Author)

University of Adelaide - Law School ( email )

Ligertwood, floor 5, Room 519, the University of A
Adelaide, SA 5005
Australia

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