Spreading iron particles over the surface of the earth' s oceans would lead to an increase in phytoplankton, decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and thereby counteracting the greenhouse effect. But while counteracting the greenhouse effect is important, the side effects of an iron-seeding strategy have yet to be studied. Since the oceans represent such an important resource, this response to the greenhouse effect should not be implemented immediately.
The reasoning above most closely conforms to the principle that implementing a problem-solving strategy that alters an important resource is impermissible if the consequences are not adequately understood.