Geoengineering is a technological response largely influenced by which international effort?

Geoengineering is largely considered a technological response to climate change issues and is most influenced by the Kyoto Protocol. This international treaty was established to commit industrialized nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions based on the premise of addressing global warming. As countries began to recognize the seriousness of climate change and the need for innovative solutions, geoengineering emerged as a potential approach in the scientific and policy discussions surrounding climate mitigation strategies.

The Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted in 1997 and came into force in 2005, set the framework for nations to commit to emission reduction targets. This recognition of the need for effective and sometimes drastic measures to combat climate change paved the way for discussions surrounding geoengineering techniques, which aim to manipulate environmental systems at a large scale to counteract the effects of climate change.

In contrast, the Paris Agreement focuses more on emission reduction commitments going forward, while the Montreal Protocol was primarily aimed at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer. The Copenhagen Accord involved negotiations about climate change but without the binding commitments like those seen in the Kyoto Protocol. Hence, the international framework established by the Kyoto Protocol has had a significant influence on the discourse and development of geoengineering strategies in response to climate challenges.