Dozens of polar explorers have warned that plans to combat climate change by manipulating the environment in the Arctic and Antarctic are dangerous, unlikely to work and could distract from the real issues, the BBC reports.
Geoengineering methods for polar regions aim to cool the planet in unconventional ways, such as by artificially thickening sea ice or releasing fine, reflective particles into the atmosphere. The methods have attracted attention as potential future tools to combat global warming. But more than 40 researchers have warned that it will cause serious environmental damage and have called for simply working towards zero emissions, the only possible way to halt climate change.
Geoengineering, which involves interfering with the Earth’s climate system to combat the effects of global warming, is one of the most controversial areas of climate research. Some of its approaches are widely accepted, such as planting trees to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Others, however, are seen as addressing the “symptoms” of climate change rather than preventing it. Such as plans to reflect sunlight.
Proponents of the method believe it is worth exploring techniques that could help curb the rapidly rising global temperatures that are already having a severe impact on ecosystems and people around the world. Opponents argue that the risks are too great, especially in the fragile polar regions, where much is still unknown.
Scientists who have conducted an assessment of geoengineering methods have looked at five of the most widely discussed ideas related to polar regions.
None of them meet the basic criteria to be recommended for use.
One idea is to launch fine, reflective particles into the atmosphere to cool the planet. It often attracts conspiracy theorists, who claim that the condensation trails in the sky are evidence of large-scale geoengineering projects already underway. Scientists have other concerns, including the disruption of weather patterns. It is also unclear who would be in charge of launching the particles, especially in regions with unclear governance, such as the Arctic and Antarctica. Uncoordinated actions could increase geopolitical tensions in the polar regions. There are also concerns that, even if the ideas are theoretically feasible, their cost and time-consuming nature do not make sense in relation to the benefits.
Another idea, previously covered by the BBC, is to pump water above the surface of Arctic sea ice that would freeze in winter, making it more stable in summer. However, covering just 10% of the Arctic seas would require 10 million water pumps.
All the controversial plans share concerns that implementing them will create a false sense of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Even supporters of geoengineering agree that these methods can only be supportive measures, not a substitute for reducing emissions.
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