We Do Not Need Geoengineering to Solve or Exacerbate the Climate Crisis

In this statement, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) defends its report 'Fuel to the Fire' against criticisms from geoengineering advocate Jesse Reynolds. CIEL argues that fossil fuel companies and climate denialists have disproportionately influenced the promotion of geoengineering technologies to delay the phase-out of fossil fuels and avoid aggressive emission reductions.

• CIEL asserts that fossil fuel companies have actively promoted geoengineering, specifically carbon capture and storage and carbon dioxide removal (CDR), to extend the viability of a fossil-based economy. This is evidenced by the inclusion of CDR in the climate plans of oil companies, which allows for continued reliance on oil and gas for decades.
• The document identifies several instances where fossil fuel interests or funded researchers promoted Solar Radiation Management (SRM). Examples include SS Penner providing sources for a 1992 National Academy of Science Panel while funded by the fossil fuel industry, and ExxonMobil employees Haroon Kheshgi and Brian Flannery authoring early articles on SRM and ocean geoengineering.
• CIEL claims that climate denialists and legislators with ties to the fossil fuel industry advocate for SRM and carbon removal as alternatives to regulating CO2 or implementing early emission reductions. The statement cites US Senators John Barasso and James Inhofe as endorsing a bill to promote carbon dioxide removal and direct air capture.
• CIEL concludes that SRM and its testing are more likely to worsen the climate crisis than solve it, as they may delay meaningful solutions and introduce poorly understood risks. The organization aligns with the IPCC's view that SRM is too risky and uncertain for energy future visions, maintaining that the only feasible path to the 1.5°C target is a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels.

APA

Muffett, C. (2019). We Do Not Need Geoengineering to Solve or Exacerbate the Climate Crisis. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/we-do-not-need-geoengineering-to-solve-or-exacerbate-the-climate-crisis/

Chicago

Muffett, Carroll. We Do Not Need Geoengineering to Solve or Exacerbate the Climate Crisis. Center for International Environmental Law, 2019. https://www.ciel.org/we-do-not-need-geoengineering-to-solve-or-exacerbate-the-climate-crisis/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Muffett |first1=Carroll |title=We Do Not Need Geoengineering to Solve or Exacerbate the Climate Crisis |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=7 March 2019 |url=https://www.ciel.org/we-do-not-need-geoengineering-to-solve-or-exacerbate-the-climate-crisis/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{muffett2019not, author = {Muffett, Carroll}, title = {{We Do Not Need Geoengineering to Solve or Exacerbate the Climate Crisis}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ciel.org/we-do-not-need-geoengineering-to-solve-or-exacerbate-the-climate-crisis/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }