As the climate crisis deepens, the siren song of solar geoengineering beckons, but the law of unintended consequences looms large.
In short:
- Solar geoengineering, once a taboo subject, is gaining traction as a possible climate change solution, involving strategies like reflecting sunlight via particles in the stratosphere.
- Concerns include the risk of "termination shock" and altering rainfall patterns, highlighting the necessity for global participation in research.
- Recent backlash against outdoor experiments underscores the urgent need for transparency and public engagement in geoengineering discussions.
Key quote:
"I’m increasingly convinced that we should do more research on solar geoengineering. But such high-stakes science requires extraordinary levels of transparency and accountability to the global public."
— Jeremy Freeman, executive director of CarbonPlan, a climate research nonprofit
Why this matters:
With the growing interest in solar geoengineering as a "Band-Aid" for climate change, this essay urges caution and care in navigating the ethical and environmental implications. Ideas to dim the sun 'ignore the root cause' of the climate crisis – and create a cascade of unintended problems, scientists and activists say.
