Geoengineering, often referred to as climate engineering, is taking centre stage to become the potential solution to slow down global warming. But is it true, or are we accidentally creating a new disaster for future generations to battle with? Let's first learn what this term means and how it could be a potential trouble rather than a solution.
The term refers to the deliberate, large-scale intervention in the Earth’s climate system to counteract the effect of global warming. It is used as an umbrella term for both carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation modification [1]. Where initially they were coupled together, these days we consider carbon dioxide techniques from the atmosphere under climate mitigation. Where the tech looks super cool on paper, the risk associated with its solution makes it a topic of debate.
With geoengineering, we can temporarily cool the temperature and slow down the melting of ice caps, which rose due to climate change, and buy some time to develop potential solutions for this crisis. On the other hand, this can become our biggest problem because it can reverse the weather pattern, agricultural cycle, and ecosystems. Our government might slow down its action plans, which are necessary to reduce carbon footprints in the long run.
Methods like bioenergy with carbon capture storage, direct air capture, and carbon storage can reduce the presence of carbon in the atmosphere by capturing carbon present in the atmosphere and using it to produce energy. Marine cloud brightening or mirroring in space to reduce the greenhouse effect can become a good solution by reducing the heat produced due to the greenhouse effect, but it is temporary.
There are also a few proposed methods, which could become a new problem for resolving anything as well. Methods like enhanced weathering, where the ocean’s alkalinity is enhanced in the context of carbon credit systems. It is a procedure to change the weather cycle by introducing fine silicate rock like basalt over the surface to accelerate the chemical interactions among rocks, water, and air. This method can increase the alkalinity of ocean water and potentially the distribution of marine life. Similar to the injecting aerosols used, SAI can also contribute to disrupting global weather patterns, specifically monsoon-increasing irregular drought and flood patterns [2]. These aerosols can also contribute to ozone layer depletion and expose us to more harmful levels of UV radiation.
Relating to geoengineering can reduce the emergency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implying that this method needs a more robust government structure and better international relations and contributions than we presently have.
In conclusion, where it is going to help us buy time to find better solutions to battle climate change setbacks, we need more research, sensible uses of geoengineering, and constant feedback to improve before it's too late. So, in short, geoengineering is not a final solution but the beginning. To finish up with the statement made by Andrea Hinwood, UNEP Chief Scientist: “Climate change is taking the world into unchartered lands, and the search is on for all viable solutions. However, all new technologies must be clearly understood, and potential risks or impacts must be identified before being put into use.” [3]
References
[1] ‘Climate engineering’, Wikipedia. Oct. 29, 2024. Accessed: Nov. 04, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Climate_engineering&oldid=1254088687