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Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters

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Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters Secretariat of the CBD Technical Series No. 66 Convention on Biological Diversity GEOENGINEERING66 IN RELATION TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS Part I. Impacts of Climate-Related Geoengineering on Biological Diversity Part II. The Regulatory Framework for Climate-Related Geoengineering Relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD Technical Series No. 66 Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters Part I. Impacts of Climate-Related Geoengineering on Biological Diversity Part II. The Regulatory Framework for Climate-Related Geoengineering Relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity September 2012 Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity ISBN 92-9225-429-4 Copyright © 2012, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source. Citation Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2012). Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters, Montreal, Technical Series No. 66, 152 pages. Comprising: Part I: Williamson, P., Watson, R.T., Mace, G., Artaxo, P., Bodle, R., Galaz, V., Parker, A., Santillo, D., Vivian, C., Cooper, D., Webbe, J., Cung, A. and E. Woods (2012). Impacts of Climate-Related Geoengineering on Biological Diversity. Part I of: Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Montreal, Technical Series No. 66, 152 pages. Part II: Bodle, R., with Homan, G., Schiele, S., and E. Tedsen (2012). The Regulatory Framework for Climate-Related Geoengineering Relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Part II of: Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Montreal, Technical Series No. 66, 152 pages. For further information, please contact: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity World Trade Centre 413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Phone: 1(514) 288 2220 Fax: 1 (514) 288 6588 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.cbd.int Typesetting: Em Dash Design Cover photos courtesy of (top to bottom): pfaff, Phillip Williamson, bbcworldservice, and NASA Goddard Photo and Video. FOREWORD Human-driven climate change is becoming an increasingly important cause of biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services. With the relatively limited action to date to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increasing attention has been recently given to additional options that might lessen the severity of future impacts, through geoengineering. There is a rapidly growing scientific literature on this topic, with recent overview reports published by, for example, the Royal Society, the US Government Accountability Office., and an Expert Meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. However, those documents did not specifically consider geoengineering from a biodiversity perspective. The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) first turned its attention to geoengineering at its ninth meeting in 2008, in the context of ocean fertilization. The COP then requested Parties to ensure that ocean fertilization activities do not take place until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities. In response to this request, the Secretariat prepared a synthesis and analysis of the impacts of ocean fertilization on marine biodiversity, which was published as CBD Technical Series 45. At its tenth meeting in 2010, geoengineering was considered by the COP more generally. Decision X/33, which includes a section on climate-related geoengineering, called for studies on the possible impacts of geoengineering techniques on biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural considerations, and on gaps in the regulatory mechanisms for climate-related geoengineering relevant to the CBD. These studies—published here—were conducted by a highly authorative group of experts, thanks to financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Norway and the European Commission. The studies were subject to two rounds of peer review, and then discussed at the sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-16), where they were well-received. At SBSTTA-16, the Parties to the CBD recognized that there remain significant gaps in the understanding of the impacts of geoengineering on biodiversity and that there is currently no comprehensive science-based, global, transparent and effective framework for geoengineering, while also noting the relevance of other treaties and organizations for filling such gaps. I hope that the studies will help inform discussions of those involved in these issues, as well as the very many stakeholders involved in protecting biodiversity. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias Executive Secretary Convention on Biological Diversity PART I IMPACTS OF CLIMATE-RELATED GEOENGINEERING ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Coordinating lead author: Phillip Williamson Lead authors: Phillip Williamson, Robert Watson, Georgina Mace, Paulo Artaxo, Ralph Bodle, Victor Galaz, Andrew Parker, David Santillo, and Chris Vivian. Review editors: David Cooper, Jaime Webbe, Annie Cung and Emma Woods Part I should be cited as: Williamson, P., Watson, R.T., Mace, G., Artaxo, P., Bodle, R., Galaz, V., Parker, A., Santillo, D., Vivian, C., Cooper, D., Webbe, J., Cung, A. and E. Woods (2012). Impacts of Climate-Related Geoengineering on Biological Diversity. Part I of: Geoengineering in Relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Technical and Regulatory Matters. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Montreal, Technical Series No. 66, 152 pages. Part I: Impacts of Climate-related Geoengineering on Biological Diversity CONTENTS Key Messages ...........................................................................................8 Chapter 1: Mandate, Context and Scope of Work .......................................................15 1.1 Mandate ......................................................................................15 1.2 Context for the consideration of potential impacts of geoengineering on biodiversity ..............16 1.3 Relevant guidance under the Convention on Biological Diversity .................................18 1.4 Scope of techniques examined in this study .....................................................20 1.5 Structure of the study .........................................................................20 1.6 Key sources of information ....................................................................21 Chapter 2: Definition and Features of Geoengineering Approaches and Techniques ......................23 2.1 Definition of climate-related geoengineering ...................................................23 2.2 Features of proposed geoengineering techniques ................................................24 Chapter 3: Overview of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification and of Their Impacts on Biodiversity ..31 3.1 Overview of projected climate change and ocean acidification. 31 3.2 Observed and projected impacts of climate change, including ocean acidification, on biodiversity ...36 3.3 The role of biodiversity in the Earth system and in delivering ecosystem services ..................41 3.4 Projected socio-economic and cultural impacts of climate change, in biodiversity context .........42 Chapter 4: Potential Impacts on Biodiversity of Climate Geoengineering Achieved by Sunlight Reflection Methods .......................................................................44 4.1 Potential impacts on biodiversity of generic SRM that causes uniform dimming ...................44 4.2 Potential impacts of SRM on biodiversity at the technique-specific level ..........................49 Chapter 5: Potential Impacts on Biodiversity of Carbon Dioxide Removal Geoengineering Techniques ...54 5.1 General features of CDR approaches ............................................................54 5.2 Direct ocean fertilization ......................................................................58 5.3 Modification of upwelling and downwelling ....................................................60 5.4 Geochemical sequestration of carbon dioxide ..................................................61 5.5 Restoration, afforestation, reforestation, and the enhancement of soil carbon. .63 5.6 Biological carbon capture and storage in land biomass ...........................................65 5.7 Chemically-based carbon
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