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ABSTRACT breaks down mind-bending scientific research, future tech, new discoveries, and major breakthroughs.
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“SRM technologies, should they be considered at some point in the future, do not solve the climate crisis because they do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions nor reverse the impacts of climate change. The world must be crystal clear on this point,” she said in a UN media release.What solar geoengineering might do though, is buy the planet some time. The UNEP report highlights that even if we fully halted CO2 emissions right now, it could take at least until the end of the century to see a drop in temperature. “Make no mistake: there are no quick fixes to the climate crisis,” wrote UNEP executive director Inger Andersen in the report. “Increased and urgent action to slash greenhouse gas emissions and invest in adapting to the impacts of climate change is immutable. Yet current efforts remain insufficient.”If we could suddenly flip a switch on global temperature rise, however, there’s no shortage of potential unintentional consequences. For one, some areas of the planet, like the tropics, might overcompensate and cool down too much while other areas, like the polar regions, would cling on to warmth.“Solar geoengineering is getting mainstream in a way that’s almost inevitable that we’re going to do it”
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Stephens is also skeptical that it’s even possible to coordinate an international effort to first study then keep geoengineering in check, she said, when that hasn’t been possible for other climate change efforts. Both Surprise and Stephens said the UNEP report neglects the voices of social scientists, indigenous communities, feminists and other groups, focussing instead only on the views of physical scientists. They fear the resulting global review would do the same. “[The report is] almost misleading in that it presents a very pro-solar geoengineering perspective. We’re trying to get our voices heard and are really struggling,” said Stephens.Others are more optimistic that future reviews will include more diverse viewpoints. “It’s significant to have the UN recommending a globally inclusive conversation on it,” says Philip Boyd, a professor of marine biogeochemistry at the University of Tasmania. “It ensures these discussions don’t take place in a technical or scientific vacuum, which has largely been the case so far.”“When the UN says something is important, people pay attention,” adds Ben Kravitz, an earth and atmospheric scientist at Indiana University. “I particularly like that they are calling for an inclusive conversation. Solar geoengineering is about modifying the climate for everyone, and we need to think about how as many people as possible can have some kind of voice in what that might look like. This hopefully moves that process along.”Despite firm opposition from some, the message from the UNEP report seems to be to proceed with caution. “While UNEP is concerned, it is naive to think research will cease and the issues will disappear. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand,” said chief scientist Hinwood.“Solar geoengineering is about modifying the climate for everyone”