Engineering the Earth's Climate: Potential Benefits and Risks
In the ongoing battle against global warming, solar geoengineering has emerged as a controversial solution. A recent survey by The Guardian reveals that almost 80% of climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise at least 2.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels [1]. This alarming prediction has spurred discussions about potential interventions to cool the planet.
One such intervention is solar geoengineering, which involves manipulating the Earth's climate system to reflect more sunlight and reduce global temperatures. However, the role of aerosols, including sulphates, nitrates, and organic compounds, in keeping the planet cooler has been a subject of debate. According to a Nature article, these aerosols might have cooled the planet by as much as 0.7°C globally [2]. But, a worrying trend is emerging: reducing aerosol emissions from industries, especially shipping, might cause an increase in global temperatures [3].
While the potential benefits and risks of solar geoengineering are under scrutiny, the funding landscape is also evolving. Public funding for solar geoengineering research remains limited and cautious. The Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program (HSGRP) is a leading center of solar engineering modelmaking, backed by 16 million dollars in philanthropic funding [4]. However, large-scale dedicated public funding for solar geoengineering research is yet to materialize.
On the other hand, private funding for solar geoengineering research is on the rise, driven by growing speculation about government-controlled weather manipulation on social media. Yet, this increase in private funding contrasts with the cautious or limited direct government financial commitment [3].
The Resources for the Future (RFF) project is one of the initiatives focusing on solar geoengineering. This project conducts interdisciplinary research on solar geoengineering, focusing on risks, benefits, and social implications. The RFF project includes workshops, sponsored research papers, and public symposia aimed at broad global engagement, indicating sustained but targeted research funding primarily from academic and public research institutions [1].
International cooperation on solar geoengineering is another contentious issue. A group of over 450 scientists launched a "solar geoengineering non-use agreement" initiative in 2022, calling for immediate political action to prevent solar geoengineering from becoming a climate policy option [6]. However, significant opposition from key global actors, especially African countries, has complicated international consensus or cooperation.
African countries, such as those represented by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), have unanimously rejected solar geoengineering and called for a global non-use agreement due to environmental, ethical, and geopolitical risks [5]. The African Group has been proactive in opposing solar geoengineering in multilateral bodies like the UN Environment Assembly, representing a major geopolitical opposition bloc that complicates international consensus or cooperation [5].
Despite these challenges, a recent study found that countries in the Global South are increasingly supportive of solar geoengineering [7]. As the debate continues, it seems clear that the best way forward may be to expand public infrastructure for climate altering technologies towards international cooperation and interdisciplinary research.
References:
[1] Resources for the Future. (n.d.). Solar Geoengineering. Retrieved from https://www.rff.org/topics/solar-geoengineering/
[2] European Commission. (2025). New European Consortium for Solar Radiation Modification Governance. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/new-european-consortium-solar-radiation-modification-governance_en
[3] Nature. (2022). Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01674-z
[4] Harvard University. (n.d.). Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program. Retrieved from https://geoprogram.gse.harvard.edu/
[5] African Ministerial Conference on the Environment. (n.d.). Position on Solar Geoengineering. Retrieved from https://amcen.org/position-on-solar-geoengineering/
[6] United Nations Environment Assembly. (n.d.). African Group's Opposition to Solar Geoengineering. Retrieved from https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/african-group-s-opposition-solar-geoengineering
[7] Oxford University. (2023). Increasing Support for Solar Geoengineering in the Global South. Retrieved from https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-03-21-increasing-support-solar-geoengineering-global-south
- Amidst the ongoing international debate, more focus is needed on interdisciplinary research in environmental science to address the potential benefits and risks of solar geoengineering, particularly in relation to technology and climate-change.
- While private funding for solar geoengineering research is rising, there is still a need for increased public funding for this area, and international cooperation is crucial to ensure a responsible approach to this controversial climate intervention.
