Why We Need a Treaty Banning Solar Engineering

The idea of solar engineering is marketed as a potential solution to the climate change. But the foolish notion that manipulating the Earth's atmosphere—by injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight—to temporarily cool the planet is a "quick fix" is the biggest load of horse shit in the history of humanity. This seemingly high-tech “quick fix” is fraught with moral, environmental, and geopolitical dangers that far outweigh its potential benefits. Solar engineering should be unequivocally outlawed, and a binding international treaty must be established to safeguard humanity's shared future.

The Risks of Tinkering with a Complex System

The Earth's climate is an intricate, interconnected system that scientists are still striving to fully understand. Solar engineering, with its aim to artificially alter this balance, is akin to playing with fire while standing on a powder keg. The potential for unintended consequences is staggering.

For example, altering sunlight levels could disrupt weather patterns, intensify droughts in some regions, and cause floods in others. Studies have shown that these interventions could destabilize monsoons, which billions of people rely on for water and agriculture. Moreover, the changes to global temperature and precipitation patterns could devastate ecosystems already under stress, driving species extinction at an accelerated rate.

The Geopolitical Nightmare

Beyond the environmental risks, solar engineering could ignite global conflicts. The deployment of solar engineering technologies would likely benefit some regions while harming others, creating winners and losers. For instance, cooling the planet might inadvertently reduce rainfall in agricultural zones crucial to food security in parts of Africa or Asia. Such outcomes would provoke accusations, retaliation, or even wars between nations.

Without clear international regulation, a single country—or even a wealthy individual—could unilaterally deploy solar engineering technology, effectively holding the entire planet hostage. This “geoengineering arms race” would plunge the world into a new era of geopolitical instability, where the manipulation of weather patterns could be weaponized.

The Moral Hazard of False Solutions

Solar engineering also presents a moral hazard by offering the illusion of a quick technological fix to climate change. Such thinking diverts attention and resources from the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy, and restore ecosystems. Instead of addressing the root causes of climate change, we would be merely masking symptoms—while risking catastrophic side effects.

We Need for a Binding Treaty

Given the global implications of solar engineering, its prohibition cannot be left to voluntary agreements or unenforceable guidelines. A binding international treaty must be established, with strict mechanisms to prevent unauthorized deployment of solar engineering technologies.

This treaty must include provisions for global monitoring, strict penalties for violations, and a collaborative enforcement framework. By working through international bodies like the United Nations, governments can establish a system of checks and balances that ensures no entity gains unilateral control over the planet’s climate.

The stakes are too high to allow solar engineering to remain an unregulated frontier. Governments, scientists, and civil society must come together to demand an international treaty banning solar engineering before it’s too late. Solar engineering is a Pandora’s box that must remain firmly closed—for the sake of our planet and future generations.

Let us act now to outlaw solar engineering and safeguard the delicate balance of life on Earth.