Geo-engineering's potential to tackle climate change sparks debate

As climate change intensifies, scientists are exploring geo-engineering as a potential solution, but the approach raises both hope and serious concerns.

Simon King reports for the BBC.

In short:

Geo-engineering aims to cool the planet by manipulating the climate, but experts warn it could disrupt weather patterns and divert attention from reducing carbon emissions.
Techniques like marine cloud brightening and stratospheric aerosol injection show promise but also pose risks, such as exacerbating droughts and altering global weather.
Conspiracy theories around geo-engineering are on the rise, complicating scientific research and public acceptance.

Key quote:

“The regional impacts are very much unknown. We may be able to mitigate global average temperature [rise], but we may actually make things worse in certain regions of the world."

— Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society

Why this matters:

Whether geo-engineering is our ticket to a cooler planet or Pandora’s box, it’s a conversation that’s heating up fast. Is it better to take a risky shot at cooling the planet or stick to traditional methods like cutting emissions and hoping for the best? Read more: Opponents of geoengineering misunderstand humanity’s choices.

www.bbc.com

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Geo-engineering's potential to tackle climate change sparks debate

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