UChicago’s climate initiative explores controversial solar geoengineering
The University of Chicago has launched a Climate Systems Engineering initiative, aiming to explore solar geoengineering, despite the controversial nature and potential risks of the field.
Jessica McKenzie reports for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
In short:
- The new initiative will focus on solar geoengineering and other Earth system modifications to combat climate change.
- Solar geoengineering involves reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth, but it poses significant ethical, environmental, and geopolitical risks.
- Critics fear it could lead to reduced efforts in carbon reduction and create unpredictable climate impacts.
Key quote:
“We’re going to wish we had effective carbon dioxide removal technologies operating at scale, or we’re going to wish we knew how to modulate temperatures with various forms of geoengineering to prevent human suffering.”
— Michael Greenstone, director of the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC)
Why this matters:
As climate change accelerates, all potential solutions, including controversial ones like solar geoengineering, appear increasingly attractive for blunting severe global impacts. Read more: Solar geoengineering: Scientists decry a 'foolish' idea.
