The discussion is largely theoretical at present.
As the world struggles to renounce its burning of fossil fuels, scientists are studying whether atmospheric geoengineering could help limit warming and avert climate catastrophe.
US-based start-up Make Sunsets, one of the few commercial ventures involved in the sector, released two weather balloons containing sulphur dioxide in Mexico last year, prompting the Mexican government to ban the activity in January. Some other projects have been cancelled as a result of public opposition, including a Harvard University and Swedish Space Corporation venture in 2021.
Opponents of the method say that while the injection of sulphate aerosols might cool the planet, the side effects could prove even more destructive. One group of 60 scientists launched a global initiative last year aimed at persuading governments to ban outdoor solar geoengineering experiments. The technology could even be weaponised by “rogue states” or unscrupulous private companies and create new geopolitical and security threats, the United Nations Environment Program warned in a report published this year.
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