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Public supports geo-engineering ideas, study suggests
By Mark Kinver
Environment reporter, BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15399832


Injection of sulphate aerosols is designed to mimic the cooling effect 
of volcanic eruptions
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There is strong support among the public in the US, UK and Canada for 
more research on geo-engineering technology, a study has suggested.

The survey focused on "solar radiation management", which involves 
reflecting energy from the Sun away from the Earth's surface, and 
received support from 72% of respondents.

The internet survey was commissioned by researchers from North America.

The findings appear in the Environmental Research Letters journal.

Writing in their paper, the researchers said the main focus on tackling 
climate change has been mitigation and adaptation, but the concept of 
geo-engineering had been gaining attention.

"Deliberate large-scale engineering to reduce or offset climate change 
driven by greenhouse gases... comprises an array of techniques that can 
broadly be divided into two very different approaches: carbon dioxide 
removal and solar radiation management (SRM)," they said.

"Most SRM techniques act by increasing the albedo of the atmosphere 
through methods such as the injection of sulphate aerosols into the 
stratosphere where they would reflect some solar energy back to space, 
lowering the global temperature."

They added that although the technology had been discussed and 
researched since the 1960s, there had been no data on public awareness 
or public opinions on the use of such measures.

The team commissioned internet-based research firm Knowledge Networks to 
carry out an 18-question survey between November and December 2010 to 
gauge awareness and attitudes towards the concept of geo-engineering.

Out of 3,105 respondents, two-thirds of which were from the US, they 
found that 72% approved of more research into climate-manipulating 
technology.

However, the survey showed that three-quarters of the people questioned 
thought that the Earth's climate system was too complicated to be 
"fixed" with just one technology.

The majority of respondents, the researchers added, were also inclined 
to say that the use of SRM technologies was an "easy way out" of 
continuing to burn fossil fuels and did not offer a long-term solution.

'Spicing things up'

A pioneering test, by the UK-based Stratospheric Particle Injection for 
Climate Engineering (Spice) project, was originally set to begin an 
experiment in October but was delayed for six months in order to address 
concerns voiced by critics.

The Spice team plan to use a balloon and a kilometre-long hose to spray 
water into the upper atmosphere - a prelude to spraying climate-cooling 
sulphate particles.


The postponed Spice test plans to pump water droplets 1km above the ground
Researchers involved in the project calculates that 10 or 20 giant 
balloons at a 20km altitude could release enough particles into the 
atmosphere to reduce the global temperature by around 2C (3.6F).

But opponents, such as the EcoNexus NGO, argue that even testing could 
have harmful impacts, and that questions of ethics and international law 
need to be answered.

On its website, EcoNexus lists a number of other concerns, including the 
lack of certainty over the possible impacts of geo-engineering on 
biodiversity.

In December 2010, the 193 parties of the international Convention on 
Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed to impose a moratorium on the use of 
the technique until there was an "adequate scientific basis on which to 
justify such activities and appropriate consideration of the associated 
risks".

The ruling, which is not legally binding, is expected to be in force 
from 2012, although it is not expected to affect research projects in 
the short-term.

More on This Story
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Climate fix tech test put on hold 30 SEPTEMBER 2011, SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
In detail: Geo-engineering 17 NOVEMBER 2009, TECHNOLOGY
Climate 'fix' may warm, not cool 06 APRIL 2011, SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
More sulphur trails from the stratosphere 21 JULY 2011, SCIENCE & 
ENVIRONMENT
Engineering Earth 'is feasible' 01 SEPTEMBER 2009, SCI/TECH
'Artificial trees' to cut carbon 26 AUGUST 2009, SCI/TECH
Big problems need big solutions 04 MARCH 2009, SCI/TECH
Related Internet links

Environmental Research Letters SPICE - Stratospheric Particle Injection 
for Climate Engineering
EcoNexus
Convention of Biological Diversity