International coordination key in geoengineering endeavors

Alec Bennett
Alec Bennett

夜色福利 scientists are presenting their work at the American Geophysical Union鈥檚 fall meeting in New Orleans this week. This article is part of a series highlighting UAF research from the world鈥檚 largest Earth and space science meeting.

As the need to address climate change becomes more urgent, a variety of geoengineering proposals are emerging to ease its environmental impacts.

It鈥檚 a trend that could bring its own set of problems, said 夜色福利 researcher Alec Bennett. That鈥檚 because no international framework exists to encourage countries to work together to evaluate and implement scientific solutions.

One idea proposes using massive wind-driven pump systems to generate more sea ice in the winter, while cooling in summer. Another ponders whether sprinkling tiny microbeads onto polar ice would help it better reflect solar energy rather than absorbing it.

鈥淭here are a lot of concerns about unintended consequences,鈥 said Bennett, who works at UAF鈥檚 International Arctic Research Center and College of Business and Security Management. 鈥淗ow reversible are these solutions?鈥

Without better cooperation, it鈥檚 more likely that a country will push forward with an ill-advised plan, he said, boosting the potential for conflict. Arctic nations, which are more influenced by climate change, could also be disproportionately affected by those geoengineering remedies.

UAF鈥檚 Uma Bhatt and Troy Bouffard also contributed to research on the topic.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not arguing against geoengineering, we鈥檙e just saying we need more understanding and better agreements in place before we go forward,鈥 Bennett said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want something intended to help to do more harm.鈥