Key impacts of climate engineering on biodiversity and ecosystems, with priorities for future research

McCormack, Caitlin G., Born, Wanda, Irvine, Peter J., Achterberg, Eric P., Amano, Tatsuya, Ardron, Jeff, Foster, Pru N., Gattuso, Jean-Pierre, Hawkins, Stephen J., Hendy, Erica, Kissling, W. Daniel, Lluch-Cota, Salvador E., Murphy, Eugene J., Ostle, Nick, Owens, Nicholas J. P., Perry, R. Ian, Portner, Hans O., Scholes, Robert J., Schurr, Frank M., Schweiger, Oliver, Settele, Josef, Smith, Rebecca K., Smith, Sarah, Thompson, Jill, Tittensor, Derek P., van Cleunen, Mark, Vivian, Chris, Vohland, Katrin, Warren, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0122-1599, Watkinson, Andrew, Widdicombe, Steve, Williamson, Phillip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4149-5110, Woods, Emma, Blackstock, Jason J. and Sutherland, William J. (2016) Key impacts of climate engineering on biodiversity and ecosystems, with priorities for future research. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 13 (2-4). pp. 103-128. ISSN 1943-815X

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Abstract

Climate change has significant implications for biodiversity and ecosystems. With slow progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate engineering (or ‘geoengineering’) is receiving increasing attention for its potential to limit anthropogenic climate change and its damaging effects. Proposed techniques, such as ocean fertilization for carbon dioxide removal or stratospheric sulfate injections to reduce incoming solar radiation, would significantly alter atmospheric, terrestrial and marine environments, yet potential side-effects of their implementation for ecosystems and biodiversity have received little attention. A literature review was carried out to identify details of the potential ecological effects of climate engineering techniques. A group of biodiversity and environmental change researchers then employed a modified Delphi expert consultation technique to evaluate this evidence and prioritize the effects based on the relative importance of, and scientific understanding about, their biodiversity and ecosystem consequences. The key issues and knowledge gaps are used to shape a discussion of the biodiversity and ecosystem implications of climate engineering, including novel climatic conditions, alterations to marine systems and substantial terrestrial habitat change. This review highlights several current research priorities in which the climate engineering context is crucial to consider, as well as identifying some novel topics for ecological investigation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	biodiversity,carbon dioxide removal,climate engineering,ecosystems,geoengineering,solar radiation management,sdg 13 - climate action,sdg 15 - life on land ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2016 09:39
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 12:38
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57836
DOI:	10.1080/1943815X.2016.1159578

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