The Biden White House has expressed support for exploring the idea of blocking sunlight from reaching Earth’s surface as a potential strategy to mitigate global warming.
In a report mandated by Congress, the administration acknowledged that solar radiation modification, a controversial concept, could be an effective response to climate change. However, scientists have raised concerns about potential side effects arising from altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere.
“A program of research into the scientific and societal implications of solar radiation modification (SRM) would enable better-informed decisions about the potential risks and benefits of SRM as a component of climate policy, alongside the foundational elements of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and adaptation,” the report said. “SRM offers the possibility of cooling the planet significantly on a timescale of a few years.”
While the report indicates the Biden administration’s willingness to investigate sunlight modification for rapid planetary cooling, it emphasizes the need for skepticism, highlighting that the review was compelled by Congress and does not signify new policy decisions.
This approach, often referred to as geoengineering and subject to both praise and criticism, has sparked divisions among experts. Some view it as a last resort if nations fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while others caution that reliance on atmospheric manipulation could result in abrupt temperature increases if abruptly halted.
