Can Cloud Brightening Cool the Earth? — Ep177: Kelly Wanser

As climate impacts mount, pressure is building on policymakers to find ways to alleviate the crisis. One controversial option being explored is geoengineering - direct human interventions to cool the planet. But can we safely and effectively implement these large-scale climate remedies?

Bryony Worthington sits down with Kelly Wanser, Executive Director of the nonprofit SilverLining, which conducted early-stage experiments to improve the reflectivity of clouds in an experiment earlier this year. They discuss the different climate interventions being researched, the scientific and political challenges, and the critical need for robust evidence and governance to navigate these uncharted waters. From cloud brightening experiments to stratospheric aerosol injection, this conversation explores the potential upsides and major risks involved in intervening in the Earth's climate system.

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Leadership Circle:

[eclecticcyclist]

Won't reducing light levels upset weather patterns affecting wind turbines and solar collection levels meaning that we need to increase carbon emitting power sources to make up? Some could think that this researh is sponsored by the oil companies to protect their industry.

[tommclean]

The scientists, such as Kelly Wanser, who are working on geoengineering likely have the best of intentions. They would view such an "intervention" as an action in addition to reductions in fossil fuel burning. Unfortunately, the oil & gas industry would view it as an action to do instead of fossil fuel reduction. Even the possibility of future geoengineering success can be pointed to as an excuse to dump more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

That's exactly what the industry is doing with the possibility of carbon capture and storage. It doesn't matter if the "intervention" under development would work or not as long as they don't have to pay for it and can point to it as a reason to delay GHG reductions.