The Environmental Defense Fund (E.D.F.) will finance research into technologies that could artificially cool the planet. This idea was once viewed as radical but is quickly gaining attention as global temperatures rise at alarming rates. Lisa Dilling, associate chief scientist at E.D.F., is running the project.
While we continue to double down on cutting emissions, we’re also looking into the potential impacts of other proposed technologies. As always at EDF, “Our goal is information, and solid, well-formulated science.”
https://t.co/d6bGXCdZeh— Amanda Leland (@AVLeland) June 10, 2024
Environmental Group @EnvDefenseFund to Study Effects of Artificially Cooling. They are not in favor but want to find out negative impacts. For example, would reflecting away sunlight also change precipitation patterns, alter ocean circulation patterns etc https://t.co/DvWDQmNazw
— Jos Cozijnsen (@timbales) June 11, 2024
She said the research would focus on estimating the likely effects in different parts of the world if governments were to deploy artificial cooling technologies. The goal is to help inform policymakers. “We are not in favor, period, of deployment.
That’s not our goal here,” Dr. Dilling said. “Our goal is information, and solid, well-formulated science.”
Great to see @LisaD144, @ucsantabarbara grad, leading the charge on @EnvDefenseFund study of Solar Radiation Management (SRM). To my knowledge the first environmental NGO to do so.https://t.co/OvBK9kgNLh
— David Lea (@DavidWLea) June 10, 2024
The Environmental Defense Fund has previously explored techniques like these.
Climate folks can learn a lot from medicine.
In medicine, research is fundamental to learn what therapies work & those that don't. Studies are designed w/ mechanisms to safeguard adverse effects.
We can apply the same approach for climate interventionshttps://t.co/n39LaW4qzu
— Reed Omary, MD, MS (@ReedOmary) June 11, 2024
But Dr.
Solar radiation research funding
Dilling says the discussion about ways to cool the planet isn’t going away, regardless of opposition.
“This is something that I don’t think we can just ignore,” she added. The group will fund research into what is sometimes called solar radiation modification, or solar geoengineering. This involves reflecting more of the sun’s energy back into space.
Possible techniques include injecting aerosols into the stratosphere or brightening clouds to make them more reflective. Researchers believe such actions could temporarily reduce global temperatures until society reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly by burning far fewer fossil fuels. A recent test of cloud-brightening technology in Alameda, Calif., could potentially reflect sunlight away from Earth.
The Environmental Defense Fund’s initiative aims to provide the necessary data to evaluate these and other emerging technologies impartially. “We need to understand the potential benefits and risks,” Dr. Dilling emphasized, “so that we can make informed decisions about how to best address the climate crisis.”
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
