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Scientists at Harvard and Yale said they have demonstrated a technologically and economically feasible way to solve the problem of global warming. Unfortunately, we have to reduce our most vital source of energy, the sun.
Drastic measures
The proposed method involves injecting fine particles (aerosols) into the lower stratosphere, known as aerosol injection into the stratosphere (SAI). These particles would divert the sun's rays and thus cool the Earth. Although all this is very scientific, SAI falls within the research field of geoengineering. Critically, the SAI would in no way limit the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. David Archer of the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago describes SAI as being:
… A temporary dressing covering a problem that will persist forever, hundreds of thousands of years away so that CO2 from fossil fuels eventually vanishes naturally.
It would be tempting to continue to postpone cleaning up our energy system, but we would leave the planet with a form of support for life. If a future generation did not pay its climate bill, it would have all our warming at the same time.
It is also a radical solution that involves a lot of risks. The fall of the sun reduces the efficiency of solar panels. At the same time, limiting sunlight could have devastating effects on the Earth's ozone layer and weather systems. According to an article published by NatureIt would also hinder photosynthesis, thus proving disastrous for food security. To make matters worse, assuming that the SAI process has the desired cooling effect, its shutdown could eventually lead to rapid warming that would endanger entire species and ecosystems.
Minimal effort
The scientists responsible for the study said they did not defend the SAI, but explored its feasibility from a technical and economic point of view.
The media has largely reported on this so-called "ingenious" solution to global warming. There are many claims that the study could be a solution. This did not escape a lot of people on Twitter, who highlighted the contradiction at the heart of the enthusiasm generated by this study. Writer Brandy Jensen Summarize it perfectly:
lol we will fight the sun before taking capitalism https://t.co/B5dqRfVmvT
– Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) November 23, 2018
This feeling was echoed by others:
"What did you do about capitalism that destroyed the planet?"
"We blew the sun." https://t.co/38OtwG1D1t
– Dave Anthony: "Vote for Rancid Ham 2020" (@daveanthony) November 23, 2018
Do you know what is easier than ruling in unbridled, unregulated capitalism around the world and transforming the world into a better and more livable habitat for all?
Something else, apparently.
– NKVLSD (@ComradeRice) November 24, 2018
Others have pointed out the absurdity of the idea:
We visit scientists from Harvard and Yale: pic.twitter.com/i9OntM9G1n
– RobinarCarver (@RobinSCarver) November 23, 2018
– Donny Johnson (@ Donny160170) November 23, 2018
Some people suggest that playing with sunlight, which is an essential ingredient in every ounce of food we eat, might be a bit adventurous.
– Sir John Salmond (@johnsalmond) November 24, 2018
There is no easy solution
It is not difficult to understand why people are interested in ideas such as SAI. Because they suggest that we could fight climate change without changing any of our consumption habits. In his manifesto, the anti-geoengineering group Hands Off Mother Earth questions this state of mind:
Geoengineering perpetuates the false belief that today's unjust, environmentally friendly and socially devastating production and consumption patterns can not be changed, and that we therefore need technical solutions to mitigate their effects. However, the changes and transformations we really need to face the climate crisis are fundamentally economic, political, social and cultural.
In a recent study commissioned by the United Nations, a group of independent scientists claimed that current dominant business models do not adequately account for the next climate change crisis. The inconvenient truth is that the fight against climate change requires a complete overhaul of the global economic system.
Background image via Jeff Sharp / Flickr
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