Legal and Regulatory Issues Concerning the Concept of Cloud Seeding in Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

Cloud Seeding is a recent scientific discovery on weather modification and alteration that aims to enhance rainfall in addressing drought and climate change issues. However, despite this potent discovery there are several legal issues yet to be addressed in the usage of cloud seeding. Hence, the study examines the legal issue arising from cloud seeding. The study adopts a doctrinal method of study, relying on primary and secondary research material, such as laws, journal articles, internet articles, and other relevant research material. The data obtained were analyzed using a descriptive and analytical method. The study found that cloud seeding is a potential means of curtailing the incidence of drought and desertification caused by climate change arising from harmful industrial and human activities. However, the study also found that several legal issues may arise in utilising cloud seeding, which includes a lack of comprehensive international law regulating cloud Seeding, the inability of the existing laws to address transboundary issues, liability, impose due compliance and sanction of wrong utilising cloud seeding that adversely alter the natural state of the environment. Concerning this the study concludes and recommends that there is a need for a unified global legal framework to ensure the responsible use of cloud seeding and effective regulation.