Statements of Public Agencies
Below are statements by representatives of governments, public agencies, international organizations, and policy-makers on the governance of solar geoengineering.
Decision AMCEN/20/Dec.9: Africa’s engagement at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
The position of African Ministers during the Twentieth Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20), as outlined in Decision 9 on Engagement of Africa during UNEA7:
“Reiterating the African Group’s concerns with the promotion of technologies, particularly solar radiation management, and its common position on the call for a global governance mechanism for non-use of solar radiation management in line with paragraph 15 of decision AMCEN on 19/5 on Climate Change” (p. 1-2)
Decide “To call for the establishment of a solar geoengineering non-use agreement and requests the African Group in Nairobi, in liaison with the African Groups in all multilateral stations and experts from capitals to continue promoting this position in relevant international negotiations and processes and further call for a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the same.” (p. 2)
We “Take note of the report presented by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme outlining key priorities to the seventh session to the Environment Assembly, for advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet, and which invited member States to consider advancing the resolution proposal within the scope that include, among other, protection of the Earth’s shield through stratospheric protection. While we acknowledge the relevance of these emerging areas, we would like to reaffirm our full rejection of any attempt to promote stratospheric aerosol injection or other forms of solar geoengineering technology as a climate change mitigation solution. We reiterate our position, that such technologies pose significant and uncertain environmental, ethical, and geopolitical risks, and must not be considered as viable options within the multilateral environmental agenda.” (p. 4)
Tripoli Declaration on environmental action in Africa
The position of African Ministers during the Twentieth Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20), as outlined in the Tripoli Declaration:
“Recalling decision AMCEN 19/5 calling for a global mechanism for non-use agreement on the geo-engineering solar radiation management or modification” (p. 3)
“To take note of the key priorities at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly presented by the United Nations Environment Programme and to reaffirm our unequivocal rejection of stratospheric aerosol injection and other forms of solar geoengineering as unacceptable climate solutions, given their significant environmental, ethical and geopolitical risks.” (p. 6)
“To call for the establishment of a solar-geoengineering non-use agreement and further call for a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the same.” (p. 7)
Position of the German Environment Agency on SRM
Position by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) on SRM. The UBA rejects the use and technological development of SRM and does not consider it as a future emergency option or transitional technology. It states that an international non-use agreement should be sought in addition to the existing governance structures.
“Why a non-use mechanism on solar geoengineering is urgently needed”
Keynote address by Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Environment, and Former Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, and Disaster Management, delivered at the Science Summit during the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
“African leadership in calling for a non-use mechanism on solar geoengineering: Key policy developments”
Presentation by Ms. Hibaa-Haibado Ismael Tani, Third Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat at the Embassy of Djibouti in Kenya, delivered during the Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly. The presentation addresses the position of the African group of countries during the UNEA-6 negotiations on SRM and the AMCEN decision.
“Solar geoengineering and its implications for human rights”
Presentation by Mr. Rio Hada, Chief of the Equality, Development, and Rule of Law Section at the New York Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), delivered during the Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly. The presentation addresses solar geoengineering and its implications for human rights.
“Germany’s position on Solar Radiation Management”
Mr. Philippe Maupai, Deputy Head of the Division of Climate and Security at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, presented Germany’s interministerial position on solar radiation modification during the Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
ICJ Written Comments submitted by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)
Paragraph 204 addresses (solar) geoengineering in relation to the obligation of cessation, which states: “[t]hese technologies are themselves inherently risky, posing serious risks of harm to both the climate system and other parts of the environment, as well as to human rights. MSG agrees […] that development and use of these technologies are fundamentally inconsistent with States’ existing legal obligations, including under the UN Climate Regime, the UNCLOS, human rights instruments, and customary law principles, including the duty of due diligence, the prevention principle, and customary human rights norms.”
ICJ Written Statement submitted by the Republic of Vanuatu
Paragraphs 571-575 address solar geoengineering in relation to the obligation of cessation, which states: “Vanuatu further submits that the development and use of [solar] geoengineering and other speculative technologies are inconsistent with States’ existing obligations under customary international law and treaty law, including obligations that are, in substance, part of the obligation of cessation. These obligations constrain and prohibit reliance on such technologies.”
African countries call for the non-use of solar geoengineering at UNEA
During the 6th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), held in February 2024 in Nairobi, a resolution on SRM was discussed. The African group of countries called for a global governance mechanism for non-use of solar geoengineering. This position was supported by several other Global South countries, including Colombia, Fiji, Mexico, Pakistan, and Vanuatu.
European Parliament calls for non-use agreement
A resolution by the European Parliament that calls on “the Commission and the Member States to initiate a non-use agreement at [the] international level, in accordance with the precautionary principle and in the absence of evidence of its safety and a full global consensus on its acceptability.”
Decision on non-use mechanisms by African ministers at AMCEN
Decision 19/5 by African Ministers at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) calls for “a global governance mechanism for non-use of solar radiation management” (p. 32).
Mexico Bans Solar Geoengineering Experiments
Announcement by the government of Mexico to ban all geoengineering experiments over its territory.