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Image: NASA Earth Observatory, Jesse Allen and Robert Simmonmore

Reverse emissions or influence solar radiation: Is “geoengineering” worthwhile, feasible and if so, at what price?

The aim of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, if possible even 1.5 degrees Celsius. Various scenarios show that very great efforts are necessary to achieve these goals through emission reduction measures alone. This motivates the search for additional solutions. Technical interventions in the climate system, often referred to by collective terms such as “geoengineering” or “climate intervention”, are therefore discussed.

Reverse emissions or influence solar radiation: Is “geoengineering” worthwhile, feasible and if so, at what price?
Image: ProClim

However, most of these measures are associated with costs, risks and undesirable side effects that have so far been very difficult to assess. While some measures only exist in theory, others have been tested in small format, but nevertheless there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of an application on the required large scale. Since the measures would not have the same effects in different parts of the world, ethical questions of global and regional justice are also particularly important and should be covered by international regulations.

Source: Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences (2018) Reverse emissions or influence solar radiation: Is “geoengineering” worthwhile, feasible and if so, at what price? Swiss Academies Factsheets 13 (4). www.proclim.ch/id/hWSRV

Related topics

ProClim Flash 69

ProClim Flash 69: Geoengineering

Die 69. Ausgabe des ProClim Flash, Schweizer Zeitschrift für Klima und globalen Wandel, beschäftigt sich aus verschiedenen Perspektiven mit den Thema Geoengineering: Was sind die möglichen Potenziale, Risiken und Kosten

Image: ProClim
Hochwasser

1,5-Grad-Klimaziel erfordert rasches, rigoroses Handeln und netto null CO₂-Emissionen

Um die globale Erwärmung auf 1,5 Grad Celsius zu begrenzen, müssen die Nettoemissionen von CO₂ bis spätestens 2050 weltweit auf null gesenkt werden. Dies ist nur mit einem raschen und

Image: Pxhere, CC0

Categories

  • CO2 (carbon dioxide)
  • Engineering
  • Geoengineering
  • Technology development

Contacts

  • Dr. Urs Neu
    SCNAT
    ProClim − Forum for Climate and Global Change (ProClim)
    House of Academies
    PO Box
    3001 Bern
    Switzerland


  • SCNAT
    ProClim − Forum for Climate and Global Change (ProClim)
    House of Academies
    PO Box
    3001 Bern
    Switzerland


The English version of this fact sheet is only available online. The German and French versions can be ordered for free as printed editions: proclim@scnat.ch

English, German, French