Arctic Climate Interventions

• Published in: The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law
• Main Authors: Bodansky, Daniel, Hunt, Hugh
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Brill 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Climate change
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15718085-bja10035; https://brill.com/view/journals/estu/35/3/article-p596_7.xml; https://brill.com/downloadpdf/journals/estu/35/3/article-p596_7.xml

Abstract The melting of the Arctic poses enormous risks both to the Arctic itself and to the global climate system. Conventional climate change policies operate too slowly to save the Arctic, so unconventional approaches need to be considered, including technologies to refreeze Arctic ice and slow the melting of glaciers. Even if one believes that global climate interventions, such as injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to scatter sunlight, pose unacceptable risks and should be disqualified from consideration, Arctic interventions differ in important respects. They are closer in kind to conventional mitigation and adaptation and should be evaluated in similar terms. It is unclear whether they are feasible and would be effective in saving the Arctic. But given the importance of the Arctic, they should be investigated fully.