Saami Council’s statement to the Harvard decision to Halt the SCoPEx Project
Åsa Larsson Blind, Vice President of the Saami Council. Photo: Rebecca Lundh
The Saami Council welcomes the recent decision by Harvard University to halt the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx) project, a project exploring stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) experiments for solar geoengineering purposes.
The Saami Council have long emphasized the importance of respecting and preserving the natural world for future generations. The SCoPEx project, with its intent to investigate methods that might result in technology used to manipulate the Earth's atmosphere, stood in stark contrast to these principles, prompting concerns over its ethical implications, governance, and the unforeseen consequences of potentially deploying such technologies.
The Saami Council's opposition to SCoPEx was grounded in our holistic understanding of our relationship with the Earth. Our stance has been consistent: rather than seeking ways for technological quick fixes to mitigate global climate change, efforts should focus on addressing the root causes—primarily the reduction of carbon emissions and a transition towards sustainable living practices that in just ways promote the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and respects the Earth's recourse limitations.
This decision by Harvard reaffirms the need for a global dialogue on the ethical considerations of geoengineering and the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge in guiding these conversations. The halt of the SCoPEx project underscores the importance of inclusive decision-making processes that genuinely consider the voices and expertise of those most impacted by climate change and environmental interventions.
The Saami Council is committed to continuing our advocacy for climate justice and the protection of our ancestral lands and ways of life. We hope this development serves as a precedent for future research and policy-making, highlighting the necessity of including and respecting Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives and the invaluable insights they offer in the pursuit of sustainable and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.
In light of this decision, we call on the global community, including governments, research institutions, and the private sector, to engage in meaningful collaboration with Indigenous Peoples. The Saami Council looks forward to contributing to future discussions on how to tackle the root causes of the climate crisies in the pursuit of sustainable and equitable solutions for our coming generationsto the climate crisis.