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https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023EF003714 *Authors* Michael Cassidy, Anders Sandberg, Lara Mani *First published: 18 October 2023* https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EF003714 *Abstract* Volcano geoengineering is the practice of altering the state of volcanic systems and/or volcanic eruptions to exploit them or mitigate their risk. Although many in the field insist there is little that can be done to mitigate the hazard, past examples of both intentional and inadvertent volcano interventions demonstrate that it is technically feasible to reach volcano plumbing systems or alter atmospheric processes following eruptions. Furthermore, we suggest that economical, political, and environmental pressures may make such interventions more common in the future. If volcano geoengineering ever becomes a discipline, it will need to overcome many safety and ethical concerns, including dealing with uncertainty, deciding on philosophical approaches such as a consequentialism or precautionary principle, justice and inequality, military uses, cultural values, and communication. We highlight that while volcano geoengineering has significant potential benefits, the risks and uncertainties are too great to justify its use in the short term. Despite this, because of the potential large benefits to society, we believe there is a strong ethical case to support research into the efficacy and safety of volcano geoengineering for its potential future use. We propose that rigorous governance and regulation of any volcano geoengineering is required to protect against potential risks, to enable potentially valuable and publicly available research (e.g., quantification of efficacy and safety), to ensure that any future policy must be co-created through community engagement, and that volcano geoengineering should only be considered as part of larger mitigation practices. *Key Points* Economic, political, and environmental pressures may make volcano geoengineering more common in the future Safety and ethical concerns include uncertainty, philosophical approaches, justice and inequality, military uses, and cultural values Effective governance protocols will be crucial for ensuring the safe and ethical use of volcano geoengineering in the future *Plain Language Summary* This paper explores the possibility of volcano geoengineering, which involves altering volcanic systems or their eruptions to exploit them or minimize their large potential risk to human society. Volcano geoengineering is a complex issue with many potential safety and ethical concerns which are discussed. There have been past examples of volcano geoengineering, some purposeful and some accidental, and we suggest that economical, political, and environmental pressures may make volcano geoengineering more common in the future. While there may be technical feasibility for reaching volcano plumbing systems or altering atmospheric processes following eruptions, there are many safety and ethical concerns that must be addressed before any large-scale interventions can be considered. A clear ethical distinction should be made between conducting geoengineering and researching its efficacy and safety. While we do not advocate for conducting volcano geoengineering in the short term, we do layout a moral case for research in this field to investigate whether it could ever be safe and effective. Clear governance protocols are mapped out in this study and will be crucial for ensuring the safe and ethical use of volcano geoengineering in the future. *Source: AGU* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/geoengineering/CAHJsh989JqXg%2BN2_aGLuph1Y0AxmNnMsiqcU6FunjPcEc8W4BA%40mail.gmail.com.
