Geoengineering – the BAS position
British Antarctic Survey: our position on polar geoengineering
Ideas to deliberately intervene in polar environments – often described as geoengineering or climate intervention – are attracting increasing scientific, political and public attention.
British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) position is that these interventions must not be treated as substitutes for rapid reductions to greenhouse-gas emissions. Human-induced emissions are the underlying cause of climate change, and achieving net zero is the only effective pathway for bringing climate change under control. Its success depends on immediate action rather than exploring intermittent solutions, such as geoengineering.
However, given the slow progress on cutting emissions, there are many groups and companies advocating for and investing in geoengineering research. BAS considers it important that proposed interventions are subjected to rigorous, independent scrutiny based on the best scientific evidence available.
What is geoengineering?
Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale manipulation of the environment and climate. Geoengineering technologies are increasingly part of conversations about the appropriate global response to climate change and plans to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, alongside reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Current research suggests that, while such schemes could be effective in mitigating some of the consequences of climate change at local scale, they could also have significant drawbacks or unintended side effects. The type and scale of the drawbacks depend on the choice of geoengineering.
Geoengineering broadly falls into two categories – carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM). The direction of travel among decisionmakers is that some carbon dioxide removal schemes could be effective in reducing greenhouse gases and some solar radiation management schemes could help delay some of the impacts of climate change. However, impartial, independent research is needed to fully understand the potential impacts including unintended consequences that geoengineering could have on our environment.
We must ensure that any future discussion of geoengineering is based on the best available evidence and information and addresses the needs of the global community.
Our approach
BAS will work with UK and international research partners to deliver the scientific evidence needed to underpin discussion and decisions about climate change mitigation. This will include the science needed for assessment of geoengineering, because it is essential to determine the risks, impacts and opportunities.
Understanding the full implications of any geoengineering technology remains complex. More research is needed to fully understand the polar environment, and the current impacts of climate change, as well as the potential benefits and drawbacks of intervention.
BAS supports the independent, transparent and evidence-based assessment of risks before any real-world research experiments or geoengineering deployments are considered. This is important to avoid any unanticipated downstream impact, especially as once deployed at scale geoengineering solutions would be near impossible to contain.
What does the current research show?
Polar environments are exceptionally sensitive, complex and interconnected. Interventions designed to alter sea ice or other components of the polar system could have consequences extending well beyond their intended physical effect, potentially affecting marine ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, wildlife, Indigenous and local communities, and wider climate processes.
It is therefore important that impartial and independent research is carried out which looks at the effectiveness, feasibility, trade-offs and side-effects of all types of interventions – including geoengineering. Currently, much more information is needed to ensure any discussions are based on a robust and broad range of evidence.
How BAS is involved
Our role in the Eco-ICE project is an example of this approach. In this project, British Antarctic Survey researchers are working independently to develop an ecological impact assessment framework intended to provide best practice guidance for decision makers. The Eco-ICE team is trialling a case-study ecological risk assessment on the potential impacts of proposed sea-ice thickening in the Arctic. We are the right team to do this work as it draws on our experience, knowledge and expertise in the polar environment. We will provide impartial advice based on our research excellence and create a new framework that has the potential to guide future assessment and governance of geoengineering interventions.