Summary/Abstract
Enhanced weathering, in comparison to other geoengineering measures, creates the possibility of a reduced cost, reduced impact way of decreasing atmospheric carbon, with positive knock-on effects such as decreased oceanic acidity. This article argues that ethical concerns have a place alongside empirical, political and social factors and considers how to best respond to the critical challenge that anthropogenic climate change poses. The article reviews these concerns, considering the ethical issues that arise (or would arise) in the large-scale deployment of enhanced weathering. including post-implementation scenarios, failures of collective action, the distribution of risk and externalities and redress for damage. The article continues to discuss issues surrounding ‘dirty hands’ (taking conventionally immoral action to avoid having to take action that is even worse), whether enhanced weathering research might present a moral hazard, the importance of international governance and the notion that the implementation of large-scale enhanced weathering would reveal problematic hubris.