Geoengineering: a set of emerging technologies to manipulate the climate to reduce effects of climate change.
It’s a strange thought, but one to be deliberated regardless. First off, let me explain to those who don’t know what geoengineering is. Geoengineering is an extremely controversial solution to climate change that has been brought to discussion by many scientists, but shut down by both leftists and rightists. Think of a volcano erupting. The sulfuric acid released by the eruption block sunlight from coming in, hence reducing the temperature. Geoengineering would multiply that effect to where there would be a blanket of sulfuric acid covering the atmosphere resulting in a lower global temperature to blocked sunlight. The whole idea of geoengineering is to reverse the effects of global warming.
Before I finish the rest of this article, I want you to know that I’m not promoting geoengineering, but as the consequences of global warming become more and more dire, it is crucial that we as a community discuss and know of all possible solutions to help our environment. Naturally, as an environmental leftist I believe that the best way to reduce the effects of global climate change is to reduce consumption rates. The idea of a technological solution makes me shiver a little, but like I said, it is important to at least be aware of the different possibilities.
Many people, both rightists and leftists, are against geoengineering for the sake of the moral compensation argument: the idea that there will be a more of a relaxed attitude towards climate change due the fact that the effects are reduced by a technical fix. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least consider it, and trust me, as a country we are. Most environmentalists would agree that climate change is also a humanitarian crisis and causes geopolitical problems. There are thousands of climate change refugees in the United States alone. This solution would put an end to the increasing number of climate refugees all over the world. Of course, as well as ending some geopolitical problems, geoengineering would cause another geopolitical problem: who is to control the program?
There are not only political problems that this solution would ensue. Geoengineering is a flawed program and would do more harm than good to our environment. As it’s decreasing global temperature, the ozone layer will be greatly affected and depleted, thus exposing Earth to harmful amounts of UV radiation. The clouds produced by geoengineering will also decrease the amount of sunlight reaching plants which will hurt the process of photosynthesis – a process that we as human beings are dependent on. Also, geoengineering does not solve the effects of pollution. Problems like ocean acidification will still be greatly evident in our society.
The solution is not perfect in any way, and many refuse to even think about it, because of all the serious consequences it would have. However, it is evident that the political agenda and attitude towards the environment and the emissions of pollution is about to change greatly with the new President. Donald Trump has repeatedly said that funds going into researching climate change are going to be cut, that the regulation of pollution and usage of fossil fuels will be decreased, and has even gone as far as to say climate change is a hoax. With this mindset, our progress toward clean energy and ecofriendly infrastructure will not be supported. As funds are cut, scientists and politicians might actually have to discuss geoengineering as possible solution to climate change - an idea that has just been tossed around and joked about up until now.
Again, I’m not supporting the idea of geoengineering. I believe that change starts from the individual and to reduce the effects of climate change, we must reduce consumption. However, as these changes are about to take place in our country, I think it is very important for people to be aware of the possible solutions that might take place in our country and how that solution will affect us and our environment.
