Scientists are eyeing "geoengineering" to reverse climate change and reduce levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Geoengineering is the premeditated extensive manipulation of the Earth’s environment. However, scientists are very much aware that these technologies are still raw and remain untested on a larger scale.
Although scientists admit that there are great risks in purposely manipulating the course of nature to cool the planet, some claims that this might be the only way to solve the dilemma of having dangerous level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Conversely, there are some who thinks of “geoengineering” as a way to escape the results of abusing the environment, so instead of doing it, we should just focus more on ways to reduce emissions.
There is really no easy way to do it, but it would be "irresponsible for us not to explore the potential to understand the technologies as best we can," said Steve Rayner of the Oxford Geoengineering Programme, UK in an interview with BBC News.
He added, "Throughout human history the technologies of one generation created problems for the next. We have to find some way to deal with that; it's part of the evolution of human society.”
There are two ways to do “geoengineering” or to purposely manipulate the Earth’s environment. The first is called Solar Radiation Management (SRM) where in reflecting majority of sun’s rays away from the planet back into the space is involved. In one proposal, it will be carried out by releasing sulfur aerosols into the higher levels of the atmosphere. However, with SRM, the problem of increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not resolved. The second is Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), which would aim to eliminate the carbon dioxide lingering in the atmosphere through a variety of approaches.
Rayner said CDM seems to address the root cause of the problem but it would take time to see an effect and would cost huge financial investments. "The irony is the SRM is seen as being fast acting and has high leverage technically, but is probably the most difficult and distant prospect from a governance point of view," he added.
