Asilomar Statement
The 175 scientists attending the international Asilomar conference on climate intervention technologies have crafted a declaration addressing questions of research methods, governance, and ethics. The following is excerpted from the press release. You can read the full statement at ScienceInsider.
Participants reaffirmed that the risks posed by climate change require a strong commitment to mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to unavoidable climate change and development of low-carbon energy sources independent of whether climate intervention methods ultimately prove to be safe and feasible.
The fact that humanity’s efforts to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases (mitigation) have been limited today is the cause of deep concern. It is thus important to initiate further research in the natural and social sciences to better understand and communicate whether alternative strategies to moderate future climate change are, or are not, viable, appropriate and ethical. Such strategies, which could be employed in addition to the primary strategy of mitigation, include climate intervention methods (solar radiation management) and carbon remediation methods (carbon dioxide removal).
