4.6 Are Ideas to Cool the Planet Realistic?

Geoengineering seems to be one of those topics that no one can really agree on. Should we be considering it at all? Or by doing so are we accepting that we can’t reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and we are simply giving up? There are two sides to this debate, each bringing with it their own arguments and problems.

The main ways in which this technology would be used to mitigate the effects of global warming are:

1. Carbon Dioxide Reduction. These methods aim to reduce the quantity of CO2 in our atmosphere (afforestation, ocean fertilisation).
2. Solar Radiation Management. These are ways in which to reflect more of the sun’s radiation back into space, counterbalancing the increase in greenhouse gases (release of sulphate particles into the atmosphere, cloud whitening).

There are a number of major caveats in the use of these, brought up by a number of questions. Who owns them? Who has the financial benefits? What if they fail?

The technology is possible, the effects might mitigate the warming due to CO2 emissions. But do we want to consider them yet? Perhaps we should research them, because surely it’s always good to have all the information, but with strong governance from a globally representative body.

Using these methods will have side effects detrimental to many regions on the globe, but letting things continue as they are will also have possibly devastating consequences. The real answer is we all need to take responsibility to reduce emissions as individuals, businesses and countries. But how likely is that?
(sorry about the unhappy final note)

REFS:
Various Guardian articles
BBC