Summary/Abstract
This article proposes that nations tackle the dangers posed by ocean fertilization experiments together with other geoengineering activities, in the context of combatting climate change. Unilateral ocean fertilization merits concern. However, regulation of unilateral ocean fertilization should not be done at the expense of furthering scientific knowledge and rigorous debate on all geoengineering experiments.
Part I of this Comment introduces the scientific concepts behind ocean fertilization, its benefits, and its drawbacks. Part II examines the current international framework that seeks to regulate and in many cases prohibit ocean fertilization. Part III provides a recent case study on unilateral ocean fertilization and the failure of the international community to prevent potentially dangerous behavior. Part IV identifies the enforcement problem arising from addressing ocean fertilization separately from other geoengineering and climate change concerns and analyzes the gaps in the framework that inhibit the prevention of rogue experiments. Finally, Part V proposes the ratification of a geoengineering protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to more effectively combat unilateral geoengineering experiments, rather than tackling each geoengineering method separately.