African nations at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi strongly oppose solar radiation management (SRM), a controversial geoengineering technique to combat climate change.
The assembly, which brings together environmental ministers and experts from around the world, has become a battleground for the future of climate intervention technologies.
The African Group, representing 54 nations, proposed a global governance mechanism to prevent the deployment of SRM techniques.
These methods, which aim to reflect sunlight back into space to cool the Earth, have been met with skepticism and concern from African leaders.
“There are efforts to use Africa to justify the use of this dangerous technology,” stated Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, lead negotiator for the Democratic Republic of Congo. “We cannot allow our continent to become a testing ground for unproven and potentially catastrophic climate interventions.”
African nations argue that the risks associated with SRM far outweigh any potential benefits.
Concerns range from altered rainfall patterns that could devastate agriculture to the possibility of sudden warming if SRM were to be abruptly halted.
The debate has revealed a stark divide among nations. Switzerland, backed by several Western countries, pushed for the establishment of an expert panel to research SRM further. However, the proposal was met with fierce opposition from the African bloc and other developing nations.
“The lack of agreement on regulating SRM reflects the highly polarized views among nations,” explained Dr. Aisha Mohammed, an environmental policy expert from the University of Nairobi. “While some see it as a potential last resort against climate change, others view it as a dangerous distraction from emissions reduction.”
Despite the opposition, experts emphasize that Africa cannot afford to be complacent about SRM. “It’s crucial that we build awareness and capacity among African policymakers and civil society,” said Dr. Oluwaseyi Adebayo, climate researcher at the University of Lagos. “We must actively participate in these deliberations to ensure our voices are heard.”
The debate underscores the need to carefully examine the physical and socioeconomic implications of SRM for the African continent.
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While proponents argue that it could provide rapid cooling and potentially benefit regions most vulnerable to climate change, critics warn of unpredictable consequences.
“We’re dealing with a technology that could fundamentally alter global weather patterns,” cautioned Dr. Fatima Denton, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa. “The uncertainties are too great, especially for a continent already grappling with climate vulnerabilities.”
