Can geoengineering stop global warming? Nobody knows, but strong doubts persist

Photosynthesis [image credit: Nefronus @ Wikipedia]

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The same question keeps getting asked, mainly by the media promoting grandiose scenarios and by groups looking for funding. Nature and agriculture don’t want less sun and less carbon dioxide, a recipe for reduced photosynthesis (see graphic). Any proposed human interventions that would only be able to have minor and/or short-period effects, even if successful from the warmist perspective, would seem to have little to offer. All this assumes there’s a solvable problem, which is also debatable, as natural climate variation is ever-present.
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Summary:
— Geoengineering experiments like cloud brightening and sulfur dioxide injection are being explored to cool the planet.
— These technologies raise concerns about unintended consequences and could discourage necessary decarbonization.
— International regulations and standards are needed before large-scale geoengineering is deployed.

This year, a trial is being run to see if using technology to deflect the sun could help cool the planet, says OilPrice.com.

Meanwhile, another scientist hopes to spray sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to reduce global temperatures.

These are just some of the innovative trials taking place to curb the effects of global warming until greater decarbonization is seen [Talkshop comment – no observable ‘decarb’ effect to date].

The question now is whether these geoengineering, delay-oriented technologies will have a significant effect on global warming, as a mid-term control measure, or whether they present a major risk to a meaningful green transition.

Geoengineering refers to deliberate, large-scale interventions in Earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change or mitigate its effects. These interventions are typically split into two groups, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM).

The CDR approach focuses on removing carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere, using technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and ocean geoengineering, as well as afforestation activities. Meanwhile, SRM uses technologies to reflect a portion of the sun’s energy away from Earth, aimed at lowering the Earth’s temperature.
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David Suzuki, a Canadian environmentalist, suggested, “The whole notion of spraying sulphur compounds to reflect sunlight is arrogant and simplistic… There are unintended consequences of powerful technologies like these, and we have no idea what they will be.”

Many scientists are now using geoengineering technologies to curb the effects of global warming to buy time while governments attempt to decarbonize their economies.

However, there is widespread criticism over the use of SMR technologies, due to concerns about artificially altering the Earth’s temperature, as well as discouraging the decarbonization that ultimately needs to take place.

Similar criticism has been seen over the use of CCS technologies, which, it is argued, give oil and gas companies an excuse to keep pumping fossil fuels for longer. [Talkshop comment – strong customer demand continues.]

Full article here.
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Image: Photosynthesis [credit: Nefronus @ Wikipedia]