Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

The document examines the rapid decline of Arctic sea ice and the potential for geoengineering, specifically solar radiation management, as a last-resort insurance policy. It critiques the 'business-as-usual' approach of Arctic nations that prioritize resource extraction over climate mitigation and proposes that the Arctic Council use its scientific legitimacy and inclusive structure to frame the geoengineering debate and conduct necessary research.

• The Arctic is experiencing rapid transformation, highlighted by the 2007 summer sea ice minimum which was 24 per cent below the 2005 minimum and 37 per cent below the recorded average.
• Climate change in the Arctic is driven by positive feedback loops, such as the ice-albedo effect, where melting ice exposes dark water that absorbs more heat, further accelerating ice loss.
• There is a 'double exposure' in the Arctic where global warming causes ice loss, and the resulting accessibility allows for increased fossil fuel extraction, which in turn releases more greenhouse gases and further warms the climate.
• Solar Radiation Management (SRM) is proposed as a potential emergency tool to increase Earth's albedo, with stratospheric aerosol injection estimated to cost between $10 billion and $30 billion per year.
• Research suggests that reducing insolation north of 71°N by 21 per cent could offset a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, though some scientists argue that aerosols cannot be easily confined to specific regions.
• Geoengineering carries significant risks, including the potential for massive distortions in monsoon patterns, damage to the ozone layer, and ocean acidification as CO2 continues to be absorbed by the sea.
• The authors argue that the Arctic Council is the natural venue for geoengineering cooperation because it is the only circumpolar intergovernmental organization and includes indigenous peoples as permanent participants.
• Current global geoengineering governance is described as 'spotty, bordering on non-existent,' consisting primarily of the 1977 Environmental Modification Convention and the IMO's London Convention.

APA

Egede-Nissen, B., & Venema, H. D. (2009). Desperate Times, Desperate Measures. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/desperate_times_desperate_measures.pdf

Chicago

Egede-Nissen, Bjørnar, and Henry David Venema. Desperate Times, Desperate Measures. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/desperate_times_desperate_measures.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Egede-Nissen |first1=Bjørnar |last2=Venema |first2=Henry David |title=Desperate Times, Desperate Measures |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/desperate_times_desperate_measures.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{egedenissen2009desperate, author = {Egede-Nissen, Bjørnar and Venema, Henry David}, title = {{Desperate Times, Desperate Measures}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/desperate_times_desperate_measures.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }