Home / Environment / UK Rejects "Sun Dimming" Geoengineering Amid Environmental Concerns
UK Rejects "Sun Dimming" Geoengineering Amid Environmental Concerns
11 Sep
Summary
- UK government opposes solar geoengineering techniques
- Polar scientists say proposed geoengineering ideas are unrealistic and risky
- UK prioritizes emissions cuts over untested climate interventions
As of September 11th, 2025, the British government has firmly rejected the use of solar geoengineering, confirming it has "no plans to deploy" controversial techniques designed to block sunlight and artificially cool the planet. This statement comes in response to calls from the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee for clarity on the UK's position on such interventions.
The government's stance aligns with a recent assessment by over 40 polar scientists, who concluded that geoengineering concepts proposed to slow ice loss are unrealistic, unaffordable, and could bring "severe environmental damage." This includes ideas like using balloons to release dust into the atmosphere or spraying seawater to brighten clouds.
While some have argued that such techniques could temporarily buy time if global heating races past climate targets, the UK government maintains that its priority remains cutting greenhouse gas emissions - the root cause of the climate crisis. The country has previously funded limited research into solar geoengineering, but officials say Britain will not pursue the deployment of these untested interventions, either in Antarctica or elsewhere.
