New Energy Beats GeoEngineering On Cost, Time, Risk

In a climate crisis, is geoengineering worth the risks? More research on such tech as ocean seeding and space mirrors is needed, some scientists say

Carolyn Gramling, October 6, 2019 (Science News)

“…[Geoengineering, which is tinkering to delay or halt the worst effects of global warming,] may once again be getting a closer look…Not everyone is sure this is a good idea…What hints scientists do have about the possible effects of geoengineering come from ‘natural experiments’ such as massive volcanic eruptions that briefly but intensely alter atmospheric or ocean conditions…[but] there are still few real-world data…[The October 2018 special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] highlighted both the potential benefits and drawbacks of strategies such as stratospheric aerosols and ocean seeding…

click to enlarge

[Rising environmental concerns have effectively prevented scientific experiments…[But unprecedented] risks posed by climate change over the next few decades may require a willingness to at least consider even seemingly absurd geoengineering ideas…[But geoengineering’s many potential pitfalls haven’t made it popular with most] Democratic presidential candidates, whose climate platforms focus instead on ways to reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet