Climate & Geoengineering

Geoengineering is the intentional, large-scale technological manipulation of the Earth’s systems, often discussed as a techno-fix for combating climate change. Climate geoengineering technologies can be divided into three broad areas: so-called solar radiation management (reflecting sunlight to space), greenhouse gas removal and sequestration and weather modification.

Geoengineering can refer to a wide range of techniques, including: blasting sulphate particles into the stratosphere or 'whitening' clouds to reflect the sun’s rays; dumping iron particles in the oceans to nurture CO2 -absorbing plankton; firing silver iodide into clouds to produce rain or genetically engineering crops so their foliage can better reflect sunlight.

ETC Group opposes geoengineering and other false solutions to climate change (e.g., proprietary, genetically-engineered 'climate-ready' crops ) and supports peasant-led agroecological responses to the climate crisis.

Orange tinted sunset
Harvard´s SCoPEx experiment to block the sun cancelled 18 Mar 2024
A controversial proposal was shut down by Global South countries and broad civil society resistance 1 Mar 2024
Briefing for UNEA6 Delegates on Solar Radiation Modification 20 Feb 2024
The conclusions of COP 28 will do nothing for the health of our planet, as snake oil salesmen rule the roost in the UNFCCC at the moment. 21 Dec 2023
The fraud and harms to local communities caused by carbon market projects have been thoroughly documented. 4 Dec 2023
Real solutions instead of dangerous distractions 4 Dec 2023
Research shows that mass seaweed plantations pose a major threat to marine ecosystems and are unlikely to capture or permanently store significant quantities of carbon. 20 Sep 2023