Benjamin Rychetsky
Mr. Littlefield
ENG-112
August 1, 2017
Geoengineering: Ethics and Implications
As technology and industry continue to progress forward, inversely our carbon dioxide
emissions increase annually. With continual rise in global temperature due to increased carbon
dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, our climate is reaching a potential “tipping point”,
which is an irreversible state of climate change. The current disposition regarding anthropogenic
(man-made) climate change necessitates an effort to possibly reverse and potentially “fix” the
global climate. When evaluating geoengineering from an ethical perspective, many implications
arise about the possible consequences, if implemented on a global scale. In consideration to the
present situation we find ourselves in a predicament of deciding whether to implement
geoengineering techniques, or to continue suggesting international cooperation to reduce
emissions.
It has been speculated that global warming has resulted from continual negligence due to
human activity. With growing concern over the present situation of possibly reaching a climatic
tipping point, the use of geoengineering techniques to reverse anthropogenic climate change has
been considered a viable solution. Though, geoengineering has been considered as a possible
solution, many implications arise involving the implementation of the experimental technology.
Daniel Bodansky states that geoengineering poses significant risks and raises the specter of
technology gone awry (pg. 539). Due to impatience, and the global trend of rising temperatures,
melting ice caps, and rising carbon dioxide emissions, the yearning for viable solutions to
combat anthropogenic climate change is exponentially growing.
The current technology within the field of geoengineering is narrowed down to
predominantly two solutions which are Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide
Reductions (CDR). Both solutions are viable for potentially reinvigorating the climate back to
adequate levels to sustain the future environment. With analysis considering each, SRM is an
affordable solution that aims to cut down solar radiation via injecting reflective particles into the
stratosphere to deflect sunlight, as well as massive sun shades placed into Earth’s orbit to create
the same effect. With low cost and feasible production options, countries could also potentially
over use such technology, which we do not even know the results of the effects regarding global
climate.
