Side Event
Geoengineering - The Implications for Biodiversity
Organizer
ETC Group
Date and Time
19 February 2008 13:15 - 14:45
Geo-engineering refers to the intentional, large-scale manipulation of land, sea and stratosphere by humans to bring about environmental change. In August 2006 a Nobel-prize winning scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Paul Crutzen, called for active research into the use of sulfate-based aerosols to reflect sunlight in the stratosphere in order to cool the earth. In April 2007 Richard Branson and Al Gore refueled interest in geo-engineering with the announcement of a $25 million global science and technology prize to encourage a viable technology to remove greenhouse gases. One commercial company embarked on an iron fertilization voyage in November 2007. Another firm proposes to conduct “ocean nourishment” with industrially produced urea in Southeast Asian seas before the end of 2007. No intergovernmental body currently has the mandate to decide when or if large-scale manipulations of the environment are acceptable or wise as a response to climate change. This side-event will examine current geo-engineering proposals and the implications for biodiversity and the CBD’s programme of work.