What is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)?

SAI involves injecting particles into the stratosphere to offset global heating caused by greenhouse gases, aiming to create a 'thermostat' for the planet.

Does solar geoengineering address the root cause of climate change?

No, solar geoengineering does not remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, which is the primary cause of climate change.

What are the main criticisms of solar geoengineering?

Critics argue that SAI does little to defuse most critical climate risks and could potentially worsen some harms, while distracting from essential emission reduction efforts.

Home / Environment / Geoengineering Risks: A Dangerous Distraction?

Geoengineering Risks: A Dangerous Distraction?

20 Feb

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Summary

Solar geoengineering may not solve key climate risks.
It risks worsening some climate harms for people.
Focus should be on emissions reduction, not SAI.

Geoengineering Risks: A Dangerous Distraction?

Planetary-scale solar geoengineering, specifically stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), proposes injecting particles into the atmosphere to counteract global heating. This technology is advanced as a method to control global temperatures, aligning with climate policy goals like those in the Paris Agreement.

However, SAI does not remove greenhouse gases, the cause of climate change. It merely attempts to shave off fractions of a degree Celsius from global temperatures. This approach is criticized for failing to mitigate major climate harms like disrupted regional weather systems and ocean acidification.

Furthermore, SAI risks exacerbating these harms by altering global atmospheric circulation. Such interventions could unpredictably affect regional weather patterns, including monsoons and hurricane tracks. Therefore, climate policy should prioritize reducing emissions and enhancing resilience.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.