In this project for the German Parliament, Ecologic Institute analyses the legal framework applicable to geoengineering, identifies regulatory gaps and develops governance criteria for decision-makers. The study focuses on international law. Based on the legal analysis, the study explores the design of appropriate governance structures and the relevant actors for its implementation.

Ecologic Institute builds on its previous work on geoengineering in analysing  these questions and providing criteria for governance. The study is written in collaboration with the Oeko-Institute and also covers EU and German law. It is part of a project on geoengineering of the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Federal Parliament.

The potential of so-called geoengineering techniques is being discussed based on growing concern over insufficient efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Geoengineering is a generic term describing a range of concepts and techniques, which mainly include two broad categories: Concepts reflecting sunlight or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. While the feasibility and potential side-effects of many of these concepts is unclear, they already raise important legal, political, scientific and ethical concerns.

The study analyses the legal framework applicable to geoengineering in international law, EU law and German law. It identifies regulatory gaps and the particular political context for governance. Based on this analysis, the project explores criteria for and design of appropriate governance structures and options for the German Parliament.