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Governing geoengineering research for the Great Barrier Reef
Citation
McDonald, J and McGee, J and Brent, K and Burns, W, Governing geoengineering research for the Great Barrier Reef, Climate Policy, 19, (7) pp. 801-811. ISSN 1469-3062 (2019) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2019 Informa UK Limited
DOI: doi:10.1080/14693062.2019.1592742
Abstract
Coral reefs are highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising marine temperatures and
marine heatwaves. Mitigating dangerous climate change is essential and urgent,
but many reef systems are already suffering on current levels of warming.
Geoengineering options are worth exploring to protect the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
from extreme warming conditions, but we contend that they require strong
governance and public consultation from the outset. Australian governments are
currently funding feasibility testing of three geoengineering proposals for the GBR.
Each proposal involves manipulating ocean or atmospheric conditions to lower
water temperatures and thereby reduce the threat of mass coral bleaching events.
Innovative strategies to protect the GBR and field testing of these is essential, but
current laws do not guarantee robust governance for field testing of these
technologies. Nor do they provide the foundation for a more coherent national
policy on climate intervention technologies more generally. Responsible
governance frameworks, including detailed risk assessment and early public
consultation, are necessary for geoengineering research to build legitimacy and
promote scientific progress.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | climate change, geoengineering, solar radiation management, Great Barrier Reef |
Research Division: | Law and Legal Studies |
Research Group: | Environmental and resources law |
Research Field: | Environmental law |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Environmental policy, legislation and standards |
Objective Field: | Environmental policy, legislation and standards not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | McDonald, J (Professor Jan McDonald) |
UTAS Author: | McGee, J (Associate Professor Jeffrey McGee) |
UTAS Author: | Brent, K (Dr Kerryn Brent) |
ID Code: | 132798 |
Year Published: | 2019 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 25 |
Deposited By: | Office of the Faculty of Law |
Deposited On: | 2019-05-21 |
Last Modified: | 2020-08-17 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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