Controversial experiment to artificially cool Earth has been cancelled – what we know about why

After years of hard work, Harvard researchers have scrapped plans to test a controversial theory for cooling the planet by sending sunlight-reflecting particles into the atmosphere. Now, members of an independent advisory committee tasked with addressing ethical and safety concerns are sharing what they learned from the ill-fated project.

A Policy Analysis Published in the magazine sciences On Friday, a research paper highlighted the importance of talking to people on the ground before launching any experiment, especially one with potentially planet-changing consequences. The paper reiterates the findings of a recent study. Calls To get Policies are in place to protect against any unintended side effects..

Until recently, the idea of ​​reflecting sunlight into space to combat global warming—a process called solar geoengineering—seemed firmly rooted in science fiction. But as the climate crisis worsens, the idea is beginning to move from the fringes of academic research to more serious discussion.

Some researchers and their backers in Silicon Valley want to test this theory. Time is running out to set rules for how such experiments should be conducted responsibly, which could help determine whether solar geoengineering will do more harm than good.

“One of the key messages that comes out of this is that public engagement is essential even when you don’t think the impact of the experiment is going to be felt in a real way, in a tangible way, in real time. This issue has a long tail, and it has a deeper meaning for a lot of people,” says Sikina Jinnah, lead author of the study. sciences Political analyst and professor of environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Harvard researchers have launched a project called Scoopix — short for Stratospheric Controlled Turbulence Experiment — in 2017. To better understand any potential risks or benefits associated with solar geoengineering, I planned to conduct the first-ever outdoor experiment using reflective particles. I would release some of these aerosols into the stratosphere via a balloon and then redirect the balloon through a cloud plume to take measurements. The goal was to observe how the particles interacted with each other and with other elements of that environment — yielding data that could be used to make more accurate computer models.

This never happened. There was supposed to be an engineering test flight without any particle release in Sweden in 2021, but that never happened. It was cancelled after facing strong opposition. From local indigenous leaders. The main point of contention was that the researchers did not initially communicate with High CouncilSCoPEx advisory committee members disagreed on whether to consult with the Sami because the test flight would not release anything into the atmosphere, according to the policy analysis. The majority ended up deciding that the test flight could go ahead if there were no significant environmental concerns to be raised.

the High Council I found out about the plans anyway and wrote a strongly worded letter. letter A letter was sent to the advisory committee asking the researchers to cancel the trip. They said it was “remarkable” that the test flight was carried out without consulting the Sami people or other local stakeholders, given the controversy surrounding solar geoengineering. The letter was also signed by local environmentalists, including chapters of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Sweden.

Solar geoengineering is still considered a “Wrong solution“Many activists support the idea of ​​climate change. Injecting particles into the atmosphere is an attempt to recreate the way erupting volcanoes can affect the climate.” Temporarily cool planet by sulfur dioxide releaseBut sulfur dioxide could also lead to acid rain, worsen the Antarctic ozone hole, or have other unintended consequences. There are also concerns that solar geoengineering could detract from efforts to transition to clean energy, or lead to dangerous swings in global temperatures if it is implemented and then abruptly stopped.

We note that [solar geoengineering using reflective particles] “It is a technology that carries the risk of catastrophic consequences…There are therefore no acceptable reasons to allow the SCoPEx project to be carried out either in Sweden or elsewhere,” the High Council’s letter reads.

The advisory committee ultimately recommended canceling the test flight in Sweden after receiving that letter. By 2023, Harvard informed the advisory committee that it “hanging“The project then” It was completely cancelled in March. “Since the beginning of this year, the project has struggled with how to deal with the intense media attention and how to deal with the Scientific Advisory Committee’s calls to communicate widely and formally with the public.” nature Reported At the time, one of the project leaders said,

“I am grateful for the insights of the SCoPEx Advisory Committee. Their thoughtful analysis is of great value to the scientific community as it addresses important governance issues,” said Frank Koch, who was the principal investigator of the SCoPEx project. The Edge In an email, he did not elaborate further on why the project was ended.

According to a newly published policy analysis, it will take more than just a temporary committee to effectively oversee future geoengineering research. “It is time for governments to start discussing how to coordinate research governance,” the analysis says.

These talks have already begun at the European Commission and the UN Environment Assembly, although they have not yet resulted in any concrete new policies. Temporary suspension Large-scale geoengineering has been discussed since the 2010 UN Biodiversity Conference, but it excludes small-scale scientific research.

Small initiatives that are too late have become a greater concern recently. Last year, the founders of a geoengineering startup launched a “do-it-yourself” campaign. Roasted fungicide In a California parking lot, they produced sulfur dioxide gas, which they then tried to release into the atmosphere. via weather balloonsThis came after a similar balloon was launched in Mexico. Government payment There are those who ban solar geoengineering experiments. A policy analysis describes the startup’s efforts as “irresponsible” and “unrelated to any legitimate scientific endeavor.”

Since then, there have been calls for rules to regulate future experiments or to halt solar geoengineering altogether. But without broader policies, keeping up with new geological efforts is becoming a game of whack-a-mole around the world.

These policies can also ensure that neighboring communities have a say in projects that may affect them. As we learned from the SCoPEx experience, even the most serious efforts can skip this step at their own expense.