‘Termination shock’: trust our expert warnings on geoengineering’s planetary risks | Raymond Pierrehumbert, Julia Slingo, Michael Mann and Valerie Masson-Delmotte
Summary
Experts warn that geoengineering, which tries to cool the Earth by changing the climate using technology, is risky and uncertain. They say it could cause serious problems if stopped suddenly and does not solve the root cause of carbon emissions. These experts call for careful scientific study and global rules before using such risky methods.Key Facts
- Geoengineering includes methods like reducing sunlight to cool the planet.
- These methods are seen as quick fixes to slow progress in cutting carbon emissions.
- Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years, but geoengineering effects last only a few years.
- Building solar geoengineering systems would take about 20 years and require ongoing maintenance.
- Stopping geoengineering suddenly could cause a rapid and dangerous spike in global temperatures, called "termination shock."
- Many geoengineering ideas could harm sensitive places like the polar regions or involve costly projects like dams.
- The Earth’s climate system is very complex and hard to predict, so geoengineering might cause more problems than it solves.
- Experts say geoengineering needs the same careful research and global cooperation that emissions studies have had.
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