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
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: Suggested Citation