Not such a bright idea: Cooling the Earth by reflecting sunlight back to space is a dangerous distraction
Not such a bright idea: Cooling the Earth by reflecting sunlight back to space is a dangerous distraction
The United Nations Environment Assembly this week considered a resolution on solar radiation modification, which refers to controversial technologies intended to mask the heating effect of greenhouse gases by reflecting some sunlight back to space.
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Albedo modification is a completely valid response to a problem partly caused by albedo decline.
That said, you should do both.
Yes, but it also poses a risk that our politicians and public will think "we solved global warming" and not move away from fossil fuels.
This is a great way to buy time, not a permanent solution.
Honestly, I can’t see that we speed up somewhere. All I read is that last year was a new high in CO2 emissions. There‘s simply no time to buy anymore. I assume Geoengineering is the only way we can somehow keep the climate reasonable. Even it comes with additional dangers. That’s how humankind keeps progressing. E.g. Anyone going to stop AI? Or even social media? No!
This doesn't solve all the problems caused by high CO2 levels.
One example is the acidification of the oceans. Higher CO2 concentrations in the air leads to the oceans absorbing more of it, which then gets turned into carbonic acid, which is not fun for marine life.
Reflecting light is not going to solve that.I see you haven't watched Highlander III (or was it II?).
Well, Snowpiercer did it for sure. I'm not sure Highlander 2 counts, but it did predict a future where everyone is miserable even though the world was technically saved from climate collapse so it's got that going for it!
The article describes several strategies to reduce albedo and each one has significant knockdown effects that could cause significant ecological problems beyond just a warning climate.
We just need to use the Futurama method. Make a huge ice block and drop it in the ocean. Forever.