"As the world faces the challenges of the climate crisis and critical threshold levels or tipping points may be reached soon, a disputable idea is gaining momentum as a potential solution: solar geoengineering the deliberate reflection of sunlight to cool the planet. Advocates argue it could buy us time. Critics warn of unknown risks. Some see it as a possible emergency break if temperatures spiral out of control. Others call it a dangerous distraction that undermines meaningful climate action."
"Our regions are experiencing rising temperatures, extreme heat and altered rainfall patterns, which threaten health, food and water security. Wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms are becoming more frequent and severe; together with rising seas they exacerbate existing inequalities and pose significant challenges to development and public wellbeing. While solar geoengineering has the potential to lower global temperatures, its effects would be unevenly distributed across different regions. Some areas might benefit, others might suffer harmful consequences, such as altered rainfall patterns or ecological shifts."
Solar geoengineering involves deliberately reflecting sunlight to cool the planet, with techniques including stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening. Proponents say it could buy time or act as an emergency brake, while critics warn of unknown risks and potential to distract from emissions reductions. Research is advancing rapidly in the Global North, while the Global South remains largely absent from public discourse and policymaking. The Global South faces intensifying heat, altered rainfall, extreme events, and rising seas that threaten health, food, water, and development. Effects of geoengineering would be uneven across regions. Inclusive, comprehensive research and governance are urgently needed to determine distributional impacts and protect vulnerable populations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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