UPDATE #1 on UK Geoengineering FOI Requests
Recently I submitted 7 FOI Requests to 7 Governmental departments asking detailed questions about GeoEngineering in the UK, here is update #1.
Last week I made a video announcement that I am determined to uncover more information about Geoengineering projects in the United Kingdom after the San Fransisco Salt Crystal aerosol injection project that was kept under wraps to avoid public backlash.
I, therefore, sent off to 7 governmental departments Freedom of information requests (FOI Requests) asking for detailed information on geoengineering in the United Kingdom.
Here is what I requested in detail.
My inquiry pertains to geoengineering activities within the United Kingdom, with a specific focus on the following aspects:
• Funding: Please provide details of any government funding allocated to support research, development, or implementation of geo-engineering projects or initiatives within the UK over the past five years. This includes grants, contracts, or other financial support provided by DEFRA or any associated agencies.
• Public Awareness and Consent: I kindly request information regarding any efforts made by DEFRA to engage the public in discussions or consultations regarding geoengineering activities. This encompasses any public awareness campaigns, consultations, or engagement initiatives conducted by the department or its affiliates concerning geoengineering. Additionally, I am interested in summaries of public feedback received and responses provided.
• Involvement of Airliners: Please disclose any collaboration or involvement with commercial airliners or aviation companies in geoengineering research, experimentation, or implementation within the UK. This includes partnerships, agreements, or projects involving airlines or aviation-related entities, as well as any regulatory oversight or coordination by DEFRA in this context.
• Oversight by Independent Bodies: I request details of the oversight mechanisms or regulatory frameworks in place to monitor geoengineering activities within the UK. Specifically, I am interested in learning about any independent bodies, committees, or expert panels responsible for assessing the environmental, ethical, and safety implications of geoengineering projects and providing recommendations or guidance to DEFRA.
• Research Projects and Publications: Please provide a list of ongoing or completed geoengineering research projects funded or supported by DEFRA, along with any associated publications, reports, or findings.
• International Collaborations: I kindly request details of any collaborations, partnerships, or cooperative initiatives with international organisations, research institutions, or foreign governments in the field of geoengineering. Understanding international collaboration efforts can provide insights into global trends and best practices in geoengineering research and development.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies: I am interested in learning about any risk assessments conducted for geoengineering projects, as well as strategies or protocols in place for mitigating potential risks or unintended consequences. This encompasses environmental, social, and geopolitical risks associated with geoengineering interventions.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Please provide information on stakeholder engagement efforts related to geoengineering activities, including consultations with academic experts, industry representatives, environmental organizations, and community groups. Understanding stakeholder perspectives and involvement is essential for ensuring transparent and inclusive governance of geoengineering initiatives.
• Policy Development and Regulation: I request details on the development of policy frameworks or regulations governing geoengineering activities in the UK. This includes any legislative proposals, guidelines, or regulatory mechanisms aimed at ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of geoengineering technologies.
Response from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs.
“Dear Lewis,
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Geo-engineering Activities
Thank you for your request for information on 10 April 2024 about geoengineering activities. We have handled your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs).
The EIRs apply to requests for environmental information, which is a broad category of information defined in Regulation 2 of the EIRs. Public authorities are required to handle requests for environmental information under the EIRs. They give similar access rights to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Your information request and our response are set out below. [See Above]
We are writing to advise you that the information that you have requested is not held by DEFRA because this area of work falls within the remit of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
In short, DEFRA does not hold information about geoengineering, therefore it will be struck off the list of departments.
Another response was from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) where they asked for more clarity.
“From our initial assessment, it is clear that we will not be able to answer your request without further clarification.
Under section 1(3) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, a public authority which receives an FOI request need not comply with it unless any further information reasonably required to locate the information is supplied.
It would be helpful to us if you could please clarify what geoengineering technologies your request specifically relates to.
We will be able to begin to process your request once you have supplied us with the further information required, but we are unable to do so until this clarification has been provided.”
This was my reply.
“In response to your inquiry regarding the specific geoengineering technologies my requests relate to, I would like to provide clarification as follows:
My FOI requests pertain to a range of geoengineering technologies and activities aimed at addressing climate change and environmental challenges.
Specifically, my inquiries encompass the following technologies:
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Contents of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Solar Radiation Management (SRM)
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
Cloud Seeding
Thermoelectric Power Plants
Solar Reflectors or Mirrors
Ocean Fertilisation
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
Marine Cloud Brightening
These technologies represent a diverse array of approaches to geoengineering, including interventions to mitigate solar radiation, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, modify cloud formation and precipitation patterns, enhance oceanic carbon uptake and alkalinity, and brighten marine clouds to increase their reflectivity.
I trust that this clarification will assist you in locating the relevant information for my FOI requests. Should you require any further details or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
Departments when dealing with FOI requests that are heavy *sometimes* tend to try and catch you out, luckily I came prepared with a list of various technologies that geoengineering is used for.
You haven't even gotten your toes wet yet.
Check out Climateviewer.com - almost 20 years reporting on this topic