Dear Progressive Friends:

I can see on Facebook that you’re upset that a geoengineering experiment was carried out in international waters west of BC. The experiment was probably in contravention of UN moratoria (which don’t have enforcement mechanisms) intended, at least in part, to prevent geoengineering. However, it was funded by the Haida nation, who have not signed a treaty ceding jurisdiction over Haida Gwaii and the surrounding maritime economic zone.

Evidence says that dumping iron sulfate in the ocean was successful at increasing plankton reproduction. Theory says that increased plankton will likely remove carbon from the atmosphere and increase salmon stocks, although it could have no or even the opposite effect.

The salmon stocks in BC are already threatened. The Haida communities that depend on them are already decimated. Carbon levels are already rising and threaten to cause ocean acidification.

Political campaigns to lower carbon emissions, preserve salmon habitat and create economic opportunity for First Nations have all failed so far and show no sign of success in the necessary time frame. Isn’t it about time we started trying drastic measures? Instead of condemning this experiment, we should be calling on our government to take over the project and proceed with more geoengineering. We already know what will happen without geoengineering.