What is Geoengineering? Can this help in securing the future of this planet?

March 30, 2023

Geoengineering is a complicated and debatable subject that needs to be carefully thought through and assessed. Though it is believed to lessen the effects of climate change but will this really be able to deal with changing climate? Read here to know more.

Introduction

In the face of the global climate crisis, Geoengineering has been proposed as a possible solution to mitigate the effects of climate change. Geoengineering intentionally manipulates the Earth’s climate system to counteract the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Geoengineering involves various techniques and technologies, including carbon capture and storage, solar radiation management, ocean fertilization, and afforestation.

What are the types of Geoengineering?

• Carbon Capture and Storage

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources, such as power plants, and storing it in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs. CCS has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions from industrial processes significantly.

• Solar Radiation Management

Solar radiation management (SRM) involves reflecting some of the sun’s energy into space to reduce the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere. This can be achieved through various methods, including injecting reflective particles into the stratosphere or using mirrors in space.

• Ocean Fertilization

Ocean fertilization involves adding nutrients (iron or urea) to the ocean to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, which absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. This technique has been proposed to remove large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.

• Afforestation

Afforestation involves planting trees or other vegetation to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. This technique can sequester large amounts of carbon while providing other benefits, such as habitat restoration and erosion control.

Can Geoengineering secure the future of this planet?

Geoengineering is controversial, and its potential benefits and risks are the subject of ongoing debate among scientists, policymakers, and the public. While Geoengineering has the potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change, it is not a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, Geoengineering technologies are largely untested and could have unintended consequences.

Benefits of Geoengineering

Geoengineering has the potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, more frequent and severe heat waves, and more intense storms. Additionally, some Geoengineering techniques, such as Solar geoengineering, can provide additional benefits. This is also known as “dimming the sun,” involves spraying sulfates into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight into space.

Risks of Geoengineering

Geoengineering technologies are largely untested and could have unintended consequences. For example, SRM could alter regional weather patterns, and ocean fertilization could lead to harmful algal blooms. Moreover, Geoengineering does not address the root cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

Why geoengineering is a risky, futuristic pipe fantasy

During the past few decades, geoengineering has gradually moved from the periphery to the center of the climate debate.

Other projects of various sizes have recently surfaced in an aspirational effort to undo the harm caused by anthropogenic climate change. While previous experiments such as LOHAFEX (an ocean iron fertilization experiment to see if iron can cause algal bloom and trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) and SPICE (a research project that aimed to assess the feasibility of injecting particles into the stratosphere from a tethered balloon to manage solar radiation) were halted.

According to the Oxford Geoengineering Programme, geoengineering is a planned, extensive intervention made in the Earth’s natural systems to mitigate the effects of climate change.

This entails strategies for cooling the Earth by physically altering the climate. These methods mainly fall under weather modification, carbon dioxide removal, and solar radiation management.

As they involved intentional interference in the natural carbon cycle, CDR technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), direct air capture (DAC), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) are being proposed as a way to achieve “net zero” emissions by the middle of the century, are also a form of geoengineering.

To artificially increase rain, China has been building one of the largest weather modification programs in the world, with ambitions to extend capacity to cover over 60% of the nation by 2025.

The Australian government has been testing marine cloud brightening this year to reduce water temperatures close to the Great Barrier Reef. The Centre for Climate Restoration was established by the University of Cambridge last year to study new techniques for SRM and cloud brightening.

Furthermore, it cannot be interpreted as a green light to maintain the status quo regarding consumption and production. To ensure that specific innovations that potentially assist us in achieving negative emissions serve the public interest, they must be publicly sponsored (most notably through the redirection of fossil fuel subsidies). And they cannot replace, only augment, the reduction of GHG emissions across all sectors.

Conclusion

Geoengineering is a complicated and debatable subject that needs to be carefully thought through and assessed. Although it may be able to lessen the effects of climate change, it cannot replace lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Any geoengineering endeavors must be thoroughly planned and assessed to reduce potential hazards and ensure they don’t have unforeseen repercussions.

FAQ

Is Geoengineering a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

No, Geoengineering is not a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is a complementary tool to reduce the impacts of climate change.

What are the potential unintended consequences of Geoengineering?

Who is responsible for regulating Geoengineering?

There has yet to be an international agreement on the regulation of Geoengineering. It is up to individual countries to regulate Geoengineering activities within their borders.

Can Geoengineering techniques be scaled up to impact the Earth's climate significantly?

Geoengineering techniques can be scaled up to impact the Earth's climate significantly. Some techniques, such as afforestation and carbon capture and storage, have the potential to sequester large amounts of carbon, while others, such as SRM, may have limited effectiveness.

How can we ensure that Geoengineering efforts are safe and effective?

To ensure that Geoengineering efforts are safe and effective, they must be carefully planned and evaluated through rigorous scientific research and modeling. Additionally, any Geoengineering efforts must be transparent, open to public scrutiny, and subject to robust governance frameworks.

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