“Men argue. Nature acts.”
Voltaire
Most of the time, this blog focuses on climate solutions that cut heat-trapping emissions. But lately, I have been reading a lot about other proposed methods of dealing with the warming planet. So, this week I did some digging into solar geoengineering: what the heck is it, and could it help cool the planet?
Geoengineering means intervening with climate systems in an attempt to bring temperatures down. There are two basic approaches: reduce the absorption of the sun’s rays (solar radiation management or SRM), and remove CO2 from the air and store it elsewhere (carbon dioxide removal or CDR). I’m going to tackle the latter in a separate article.
Solar geoengineering methods being studied:
- Injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere (SAI) – mimics the effects of a volcano
- Brightening clouds over oceans with seawater aerosols to reflect more sunlight
- Using mirrors in space to reflect the sun’s rays
Solar geoengineering has become a heated topic among climate scientists. A 20-second search would give you the flavor. Some argue we won’t be able to reduce emissions fast enough, so SRM will be necessary to prevent catastrophe. Others see it as a gamble too risky to take, and a distraction from the urgency to cut emissions.
Some benefits and risks
Benefits
- Potential quick fix or stop-gap
- Could complement emissions reductions
- Short-acting and reversible
- Inexpensive relative to other solutions
Risks
- Many unknowns, unproven
- Local actions could have have far-reaching effects
- No system for global regulation
- Risks of unintended consequences on weather patterns
- Doesn’t address the root cause of climate change
While there is plenty of disagreement about SRM, climate scientists do agree on one key point – it will not solve the problem on its own. Indeed, emissions cuts need to be top priority. Implementing these strategies without decarbonizing would be like repairing water damage to your ceiling without fixing the leak in your roof. That said, for a problem this big, all ideas need to be on the table.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.