https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg53007/pdf/CHRG-111hhrg53007.pdf
Geoengeneering document from 2009/2010
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"Stratospheric Sulfate Injections—A spray of sulfates into the second layer of earth’s atmosphere13could reflect incoming solar radiation to reduce absorption. This process occurs naturally after a volcanic eruption, in which large quantities of sulfur dioxide are released into the stratosphere."
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"Risks and Detriments
Unilateral deployment—It is possible for a non-governmental group or individual to undertake one of the higher-impact, lower-cost geoengineering initiatives unilat-erally, perhaps without scientific support or any risk management strategy. As rec-ognized in the Royal Society report, the materials for stratospheric injections, for ex-ample, would be readily available and affordable to a small group or even a wealthy individual. For this reason and others, national and global security are also key con-cerns with geoengineering and international governance may be needed at the front end.
Moral hazard—Another concern is that the public knowledge of widespread imple-mentation of geoengineering represents a moral hazard, in which a person or group perceiving itself insulated from risk is more likely to engage in risky or detrimental behavior. The Royal Society suggests that there is significant risk in large-scale ef-forts being treated as a ‘‘get out of jail free card,’’ in which carbon sensitive con-sumer decision-making for mitigation will wane. Federal funding and political mo-
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mentum for mitigation could also be compromised if geoengineering is seen as a su-perior substitute for traditional mitigation and adaptation.
Ocean Acidification—A clear and significant disadvantage of geoengineering is that, unlike carbon mitigation strategies, most strategies do not reduce the progress of ocean acidification or destruction of coral reefs and marine life due to higher ocean temperatures. CDR methods address ambient carbon levels and could indi-rectly affect ocean carbon levels by slowing the rate of carbon uptake, but it is not clear that decreases in atmospheric carbon would help reverse ocean acidification. SRM methods do not address carbon levels at all.
Accidental Cessation of SRM—One critical drawback of SRM methods specifically is that, because they do not modify atmospheric carbon concentrations, a disruption of service could result in large and rapid changes in climate, i.e. a return to the un-mitigated impact of increased carbon levels. If SRM methods are undertaken with-out congruent controls on GHG emissions, then we would be constantly at risk of dramatic climate changes if the SRM program ends. These potential rapid, poten-tially catastrophic impacts must be carefully considered before implementation at any scale. A concurrent charge against geoengineering is that we may not have the political power, funds, foresight or organization, either domestically or internation-ally, for long-term governance of projects of this scale without incurring unaccept-able negative impacts.
Food and Water Security—A large-scale initiative impacting weather patterns could greatly modify the precipitation patterns in particular geographic areas, jeop-ardizing local food and fresh water supplies for local populations. For example, a drought incurred by unforeseen impacts of artificial cloud formation could suppress crop growth. Poor and developing nations may be particularly susceptible to such impacts.Butterfly Effect—Ultimately, there is near certainty that some consequences of geoengineering methods cannot be anticipated and will remain unseen until full-scale deployment. Skeptics have alleged the possibility of an ecological
‘‘butterfly ef-fect,’’ in which the secondary effects of geoengineering are so wildly unforeseen that a large scale ecological crisis could occur. Some scientists argue that the possibility that such harmful side effects may be larger than the expected benefits should deter consideration of some or all geoengineering proposals.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2021 05:19PM by the real General Mahdi.