Solar geoengineering is considered a more controversial method of geoengineering than carbon sequestration, because solar geoengineering is designed to change the atmosphere of the earth. The complexity of life on earth means we can’t model effectively the potential for all of the changes that could happen if we release a butterfly into the upper atmosphere, or, more accurately, sun-reflecting particles. But scientist suggest that the riskier option is the one we are currently following: doing nothing and hoping climate change is all a mistake.
When a volcano blows, masses of reflective particles are released into the atmosphere, reflecting sunlight back into space–for us down here, blocking the sun. We are all familiar with this idea, from the popular kid’s stories about what happened to the dinosaurs. The volcano blew, it blocked out the sun, no food could grow, there were mass extinctions.
What is happening with the current level of air pollution and climate change is a slow version of the volcano, with pollutants in the air and upper atmosphere slowly killing the life forms below (us) and the planet itself by raising the temperature of the earth, which is causing catastrophic geological changes.
Scientists are suggesting that with a careful injection of the right amount and type of particles into the upper atmosphere, where they can reflect the sun and stay too high for us to breathe, we can decrease the temperature of the earth enough to slow or stop the changes we are already seeing.
Problem number one with the plan: we don’t know how this will change global rainfall patterns. With a burgeoning world population and the prospect of famine in the future if we don’t figure out how to feed everyone, any engineering that will potentially decrease fertile and arable land is a problem.
Problem number two: what one country does affects the whole of the countries and people on earth. Does one country, or one region, have the right to unilaterally deploy an engineering solution that will affect everyone? If we need a great deal of research first, before anyone can say the solution is found, does group consent also need to include this research? Do we have time to argue about it? Do we have the right to act in good faith, but without enough experience or knowledge, on a system as complex as the living earth? Do we have the right to do nothing, as climate change alters the earth in ways we can no longer fix?
The challenge is going to come with acceptance of the risk of doing small research tests that can gather enough information to formulate global programs. For more information, or to begin to crowdfund a solution that might save the world, please contact us.
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