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Experts Warn Polar Geoengineering Schemes Risk Irreversible Damage
9 Sep
Summary
- Over 40 scientists sound alarm on risky geoengineering projects in polar regions
- Proposals like 'dimming the sun' and 'sea curtains' could have dangerous consequences
- Geoengineering in the Arctic and Antarctica is particularly worrying due to fragile environments
As of September 9th, 2025, a team of more than 40 scientists is sounding the alarm over controversial geoengineering projects being considered for the north and south poles. In a new paper, the global experts warn that concepts such as 'dimming the sun' and 'sea curtains' risk causing irreversible damage to these pristine and little-understood icy environments.
The scientists say the madcap ideas, proposed by other researchers, come at a high cost, are not feasible, and could even have dangerous knock-on effects. Geoengineering involves large-scale manipulation of environmental processes to halt global warming, and there are projects in various stages around the world. However, the ones targeting the Arctic and Antarctica are particularly worrying, the team argues, because these regions are so fragile.
"These ideas are often well-intentioned, but they're flawed," said lead author Professor Martin Siegert of the University of Exeter. "Deploying any of these polar projects is likely to work against the polar regions and the planet." The scientists outline six of the most divisive geoengineering proposals, from 'dimming the sun' to 'sea curtains', 'glass beads', and 'ocean fertilization', warning that all of them pose serious risks to wildlife and the landscape.
