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Arctic Sea Ice Decline and Geoengineering Solutions: Cascading Security and Ethical Considerations

Author

Listed:
  • Alec P. Bennett

    (Center for Arctic Security and Resilience, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

  • Troy J. Bouffard

    (Center for Arctic Security and Resilience, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

  • Uma S. Bhatt

    (Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

Abstract

Climate change is generating sufficient risk for nation-states and citizens throughout the Arctic to warrant potentially radical geoengineering solutions. Currently, geoengineering solutions such as surface albedo modification or aerosol deployment are in the early stages of testing and development. Due to the scale of deployments necessary to enact change, and their preliminary nature, these methods are likely to result in unforeseen consequences. These consequences may range in severity from local ecosystem impacts to large scale changes in available solar energy. The Arctic is an area that is experiencing rapid change, increased development, and exploratory interest, and proposed solutions have the potential to produce new risks to both natural and human systems. This article examines potential security and ethical considerations of geoengineering solutions in the Arctic from the perspectives of securitization, consequentialism, and risk governance approaches, and argues that proactive and preemptive frameworks at the international level, and especially the application of risk governance approaches, will be needed to prevent or limit negative consequences resulting from geoengineering efforts. Utilizing the unique structures already present in Arctic governance provides novel options for addressing these concerns from both the perspective of inclusive governance and through advancing the understanding of uncertainty analysis and precautionary principles.

Suggested Citation

  • Alec P. Bennett & Troy J. Bouffard & Uma S. Bhatt, 2022. "Arctic Sea Ice Decline and Geoengineering Solutions: Cascading Security and Ethical Considerations," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:13:y:2022:i:1:p:22-:d:824187
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jesse L. Reynolds & Edward A. Parson, 2020. "Nonstate governance of solar geoengineering research," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 323-342, May.
    2. J. Cohen & X. Zhang & J. Francis & T. Jung & R. Kwok & J. Overland & T. J. Ballinger & U. S. Bhatt & H. W. Chen & D. Coumou & S. Feldstein & H. Gu & D. Handorf & G. Henderson & M. Ionita & M. Kretschm, 2020. "Divergent consensuses on Arctic amplification influence on midlatitude severe winter weather," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 20-29, January.
    3. Khara D. Grieger & Tyler Felgenhauer & Ortwin Renn & Jonathan Wiener & Mark Borsuk, 2019. "Emerging risk governance for stratospheric aerosol injection as a climate management technology," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 371-382, December.
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