- AP Photo/Patrick Semansky.
United States – The Billionaire, Bill Gates once floated the idea of using techniques to block some of the Sunlight radiation from reaching Earth and supported a Harvard University experiment to look at the effects of spraying reflective particles into the stratosphere in the hope of creating global cooling.
Then, the administration of the United States President Joe Biden seemed interested in the idea. Could blocking the Sun's rays be used to slow global warming?
A report requested by Congress has been published on the White House website. The report outlines the research options associated with a process known as Solar Radiation Modification.
What the document does is approach the issue of solar geoengineering from a 'risk of intervention versus risk of no action' framework.
The 44-page document was requested by Congress in a policy report accompanying the 2022 Budget Appropriations Bill.
Ilustrasi Gerhana Matahari.
- Humas Universitas Brawijaya.
The document raises several ways to limit the amount of Sunlight reaching Earth, such as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) to double the amount of aerosols in the stratosphere, to reflect Sunlight away from the planet as happens naturally after volcanic eruptions.
With marine cloud brightening to increase cloud cover over thinning cirrus seas, or reduce the number of high-flying cirrus clouds, which reflect the Sun's radiation to Earth.
"This research plan focuses on improving understanding of the potential impacts of SRM, rather than on the technology required for its application. Many of this research will contribute to our ability to understand basic climate processes and the impacts of human greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the outcomes of SRM," the document explained.
The report acknowledges that there are no plans to create a comprehensive research program focused on solar radiation modification.
However, when the report was made public, it caused a backlash on the internet. The idea, although only outlined as a research paper, was labeled as 'madness'.
Some users feared that this would be an attempt to 'legalize climate weapons' while others worried about the consequences to humans, plant life and food supply.
Bill Gates, along with several private donors, supported Harvard University's Geoengineering Research Program in 2021.
The program researches methods such as seeding the stratosphere with aerosols, clouds of gas formed by particles of various materials to reflect the Sunlight.
However, in an open letter to academics, the initiators of the Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement argue that these technologies cannot be effectively regulated and would pose unacceptable risks if implemented as part of future climate policy.
