Debate on Geoengineering States its Risky Consequences

By Shubhendra Anand , 24 February, 2025

Global warming is a challenging phenomenon resulting in climate change globally. Developed nations worldwide are finding various solutions and implementing specific rules to check climate change. However, climate change results from the increasing number of harmful emissions in the air. Hence, the energy sector is finding ways to construct better roadways for cleaner energy consumption. One of these solutions is Geoengineering, which experiments with cloud brightening and injecting sulfur dioxide to lower the planet's temperature. A survey in 2024 shows that geoengineering experiments can lead to unnecessary consequences. Further, these results can affect the decarbonization process needed to alter climate change.

Decarbonization in the energy sector is critical to beat carbon emissions from several sectors. The automotive industry has a harmful carbon footprint. Hence, electric vehicles are a better alternative to conventional fuel-run vehicles. Research exploring various solutions to tackle global warming suggests geoengineering is promising. Geoengineering involves large-scale experiments that affect a broader range. It intervenes in the planet's natural layers to mitigate the effects of global warming. Experts state it involves two processes- carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM). The CDR process affirms carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere through carbon capture and other phenomena.

Further, carbon capture helps to store carbon in the necessary sectors, like the oil and gas industries. Again, SRM includes reflecting a particular portion of solar radiation to get results by significantly lowering the Earth's temperature. SRM consists of a cloud-brightening process that changes the composition of clouds above the world's oceans.

Experts claim that these technologies to tackle climate change are driving funding and investments from the government. However, studies in 2024 show that it can severely affect the Earth's weather conditions shortly. Therefore, the European Union proposes to analyze international regulations to check the usage of these technologies. It states that overuse of these technologies can lead to harmful effects on Earth's weather.

            Impact of solar engineering in the environment to reduce carbon emissions: