The Swiss wanted to block out the Sun. UN geoengineering says “NO”

The sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), which took place between February 26 and March 1, discussed Switzerland’s December proposal to place greater emphasis on solar geoengineering as a solution to combat climate change. The country’s representatives proposed the creation of an international institution that would collect information on progress and the latest discoveries in this field. However, the UN assembly voted to reject the Swiss application –

Switzerland wanted to block out the Sun. The UN did not agree to expand the research

The Swiss wanted to focus primarily on blocking sunlight using SRM (Solar Radiation Modification) technology. This method would consist in releasing a coolant atmosphere to higher parts, which would reflect sunlight. The most popular compound tested for this purpose is currently sulfur dioxide, but in the world only a few groups of scientists are studying this solution. However, some of them argue that they could implement SRM now to avoid tipping points for climate change.

Critics of this solution fear the impact of SRM on weather and agricultural patterns, especially in poorer countries. There is also a concern that the use of SRM will serve as an excuse not to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And it was these voices that prevailed during the UNEA session, where Switzerland’s proposal was revised six times.

There will be no greater focus on climate geoengineering. Technology is too unpredictable

We regret that UNEA has not been able to reach a conclusion on this important matter. However, the discussions were informative and useful, and we managed to start a global conversation on the topic

– said Robin Poëll, spokesman for the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. As he explained, the disagreement concerned whether the SRM institution would only collect data on the risks and uncertainties arising from this technology, or whether it could also report potential benefits.

Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s climate envoy, said African countries opposed the resolution. – This is a technology that is slowly emerging and the risks associated with it are unknown – he said. The European Union, Pacific island states, Colombia and Mexico were also against it.

– These technologies cannot address the root causes of the climate crisis. Instead, they would enable major polluters to delay the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels, said Mary Church, senior geoengineering specialist at the Center for International Environmental Law.