Climate change is widely seen as the central environmental issue of our time. However, climate protection measures implemented to date are showing little impact. The question has been raised of whether direct technological interventions in the climate system – termed climate engineering – could be a suitable means of limiting the rise in temperature. Policy-makers and society would face major challenges with regard to decisions about the development and application of climate engineering, especially as the entire world population would potentially have to deal with the possible consequences of these measures. Decisions on the benefits of climate engineering therefore cannot be based solely on technological and scientific criteria or economic considerations. Assessment must also include ethical, legal and societal criteria.