SB62 Press Conference: Geoengineering Africa and Beyond: A Dangerous Distraction

24 Jun 2025

Geoengineering is deliberate, risky and speculative large-scale technological manipulation of the Earth’s Systems – oceans, land, and atmosphere – in an attempt to try and cool the planet. These dangerous and illegal outdoor experiments are entering the mainstream discourse on climate as well as in the halls of the UN at SB62 climate negotiations as if they are an answer to the climate crisis. The reality is – these climate scams are a dangerous distraction, causing risks to ecosystems, communities, territories and Indigenous land, water and air – and are not the answer to the climate crisis.

As governments prepare for COP30, join our press conference as climate justice groups, frontline defenders and civil society policy experts raise concerns and expose the growing threat of geoengineering including technofixes like Solar Radiation Manipulation (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) being pushed in Africa and other regions and communities by powerful actors with vested interests, under the guise of climate action. 

Carbon markets are a major driver for geoengineering. Despite mounting evidence that carbon markets do not deliver real emissions reductions and often lead to human rights abuses, land grabs, and violations of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, these technofixes continue to be called a climate solution. Join us to hear why global civil society is pushing back and demanding a stop to geoengineering.

Date: 24 June 2025

Time: 12 Noon – 12.30 PM CEST
Location: Room Nairobi 4 and Online Link

Speakers

• Dr. Mfoniso Xael, Health of Mother Earth Foundation
• Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network
• Tbc, Alliance of Non-Governmental Radical Youth
• Niclas Hällström, WhatNext? 

Moderator

• Kwami Kpondzo, Global Forest Coalition/Co-coordinator HOME Alliance Africa Working Group 

Media Contact

For more information and media requests please reach out to

Neha Gupta, Communications Coordinator 

Email: comms@handsoffmotherearth.org