Political opposition to technologies that could artificially cool the planet is in full swing. A field test of geoengineering, planned for October in Sculthorpe, UK, has been for six months. Meanwhile, the European Parliament has passed a that 鈥渆xpresses its opposition to proposals for large scale geoengineering鈥�.
The delayed field test, led by of the University of Bristol, UK, involves a kilometre-long hose that will pump water into the atmosphere. Larger versions of the device could pump sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere, creating a sunshade that would cool the Earth.
According to the UK鈥檚 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (), which is funding the project, the delay was recommended by an independent panel to allow external parties to air their concerns.
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The decision follows a concerted campaign by a Canadian NGO, the . Last month they issued an calling for the project to be suspended. 鈥淲e believe there should be a ban on all field experimentation until there鈥檚 an international agreement,鈥� says programme manager . ETC Group is not seeking a ban on theoretical and modelling work or lab-based trials.
The European Parliament鈥檚 resolution was pushed through by , a Greek Socialist MEP. If the other bodies in the European Union approve it, the anti-geoengineering statement could become part of the EU鈥檚 negotiating position for the in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012. In theory, it could then be included in any international agreement that comes out of Rio.
It鈥檚 not the first attempt to control geoengineering. In late 2010, a meeting of the UN Convention on Biodiversity imposed a moratorium on any form of geoengineering that might affect biodiversity. However this shouldn鈥檛 apply to Watson鈥檚 field test, says of the Oxford Geoengineering Programme at the University of Oxford. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone could argue that spraying water into the atmosphere would have an effect on biodiversity,鈥� he says.
Nevertheless Kruger is supporting the delay, arguing that public opinion must be seriously considered before experiments begin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important that work on geoengineering is not just legally but also socially acceptable,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e want to avoid the kind of backlash that affected GM crops and nuclear power.鈥�
