More Than 100 Countries Announced their Intention to Regulate Harmful Technologies
October 16, 2023
Geneva, Switzerland / Berlin, Germany —The Center for International Environmental Law and the Heinrich Böll Foundation have welcomed a statement that indicates the intention to regulate four highly problematic marine geoengineering technologies. The Parties to the London Convention and Protocol, international treaties that regulate the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea, announced their intention to regulate four techniques with “the potential for deleterious effects that are widespread, long-lasting or severe” in a statement adopted the first week of October.
The marine geoengineering techniques covered in the statement include both marine carbon dioxide removal (ocean alkalinity enhancement and biomass cultivation for carbon removal) and solar radiation modification (marine cloud brightening and surface albedo enhancement involving reflective particles and/or other materials). The regulation of these technologies could follow the rules already in place for ocean fertilization, amounting to a ban, with the exception of strictly defined legitimate scientific research.
The statement was adopted by the 45th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the 18th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol (LC 45/LP 18), which met at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters on October 2-6, 2023.
This statement on marine geoengineering is significant for the following reasons:
- The endorsement by 101 governments of the recommendations from the Scientific Groups of the London Convention and Protocol highlights a shared sense of urgency and concern, which is especially relevant for countries targeted for marine geoengineering outdoor experiments involving commercial activities for the sale of carbon credits.
- The statement sends a clear message to other UN bodies and fora where marine geoengineering or ‘carbon removal’ credits from potential marine geoengineering activities are being discussed or potentially considered. This includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement (including negotiations on a new global carbon market/Article 6), the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
Lili Fuhr, Fossil Economy Program Director at CIEL, said:
“We welcome this strong statement from the London Protocol and Convention, emphasizing the urgency to protect our invaluable marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. As interest in marine geoengineering activities and commercial ocean carbon removal projects grows, we need governments to step in and put a hold on the testing and deployment of such approaches. Ocean ecosystems are not only critical climate regulators, but essential for life on Earth. We cannot afford to entertain speculative, dangerous technologies or other false solutions, like carbon offsets, that only divert attention from what we must do: phase out fossil fuels and protect the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.”
Linda Schneider, Senior Programme Officer at the Heinrich Boell Foundation said:
“This statement is a clear signal to the upcoming climate negotiations at COP28 in Dubai to not allow marine geoengineering to be used for carbon offset credits. Marine geoengineering offsets would create a huge and dangerous loophole for the fossil fuel industry and other polluting industries. In a time when most carbon offsets have proven ineffective in curbing global warming, we shouldn’t add fuel to the fire by encouraging dubious ‘removal’ credits associated with speculative marine geoengineering.”
Media contact:
Niccolò Sarno, CIEL Media Relations: press@ciel.org