What are the potential risks of solar geoengineering?

Solar geoengineering could increase the ferocity of North Atlantic hurricanes, cause droughts in parts of Africa, and lead to the dieback of the Amazon rainforest if deployed unilaterally by a "rogue actor".

What is the relationship between geoengineering and fossil fuel emissions?

Experts warn that geoengineering only masks the symptoms of the climate crisis and does not address the root cause - the burning of fossil fuels. If geoengineering efforts were halted abruptly without emissions reductions, there could be a "termination shock" of rapidly rising temperatures.

Home / Environment / Geoengineering Risks Revealed: Potential for Hurricanes and Droughts

Geoengineering Risks Revealed: Potential for Hurricanes and Droughts

Q: How could solar geoengineering be used effectively to combat climate change?

If solar geoengineering is used globally and in a coordinated way for an extended period, it could effectively lower global temperatures, though the logistics would be daunting.

5 Nov

•

Summary

Solar geoengineering could increase North Atlantic hurricane intensity
Unilateral deployment could cause droughts in Africa and Amazon dieback
Coordinated global effort needed to mitigate climate change risks

Geoengineering Risks Revealed: Potential for Hurricanes and Droughts

As of November 5th, 2025, a new report from the UK's Royal Society has revealed the potential risks and unintended consequences of solar geoengineering efforts to combat climate change. The report warns that if such technology is deployed by a "rogue actor" in only certain regions, it could have severe consequences, including increasing the intensity of North Atlantic hurricanes, causing droughts in parts of Africa, and leading to the dieback of the Amazon rainforest.

However, the report also states that if solar geoengineering is used globally and in a coordinated way for an extended period, it could effectively lower global temperatures. The experts acknowledge that while the logistics of a large-scale geoengineering effort would be daunting, the cost would be relatively small compared to the trillions needed for climate action.