I've been reading about proposals to use reflective aerosols in the upper atmosphere to temporarily cool the planet. While the science is fascinating, it seems like a massive gamble. Who would have the authority to deploy such a global intervention, and how would we even begin to agree on the potential side effects for different regions? It feels like a climate change solution that could create entirely new geopolitical conflicts.
Bottom line there is no global authority to press a go button for reflective aerosols. Governance is fragmented and many scholars call for a new treaty or UN process. citeturn0search0turn0search1
Politics will shape who pays, who benefits, and how side effects are handled. EU advisers push caution and Switzerland even proposed UN oversight. citeturn0news15turn0news13
One plausible track is to adapt the Vienna Convention on the ozone layer to govern SRM research and potential deployment. citeturn0search1
The ENMOD treaty bans hostile environmental modification, but the climate engineering debate faces legal ambiguity and enforcement questions. citeturn0search16
In short, expect a slow, contested path toward a global framework rather than a sudden deployment. citeturn0search0turn0news15