A Pre-Flight Public-Engagement Gate for Outdoor Geoengineering Experiments

PROBLEM: An experiment planned without broad, inclusive public engagement in the place where it would fly will be stopped late, at greater cost, and with lasting mistrust, even if the science question was legitimate.

SOLUTION: A watsonx Orchestrate engagement gate that must be passed before any outdoor test flight: documented engagement with affected communities including Indigenous peoples, a published response to concerns raised, and an independent advisory recommendation, with the gate record retained whether the flight proceeds or not.

EVIDENCE BASIS: SCoPEx researchers planned a platform test flight from Kiruna, Sweden in 2021, suspended it after opposition from environmental groups and Indigenous communities in the region, and the advisory committee process that followed was described as one of the first governance frameworks for a specific solar geoengineering experiment. Source: https://production.node.sciam.com/article/high-profile-geoengineering-experiment-shuts-down/

HOLDS: The views of any individual community member are UNVERIFIED here; only the documented suspension and the role of opposition are recorded.

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A Pre-Flight Public-Engagement Gate for Outdoor Geoengineering Experiments