Scientists actually forced to say blotting out the sun to stop global warming is a bad idea

Dozens of policy experts and scientists issued an open letter Monday urging governments and the United Nations to restrict solar geoengineering.

The letter called upon world leaders to commit to an international non-use agreement on solar geoengineering, or the hypothetical practice of partially blocking the sun’s rays to lower the Earth’s temperature and prevent global warming. A non-use agreement would prohibit governments from funding or granting patent rights related to the technology’s development and include a ban on all outdoor experiments using the technology.

“We call for immediate political action from governments, the United Nations, and other actors to prevent the normalization of solar geoengineering as a climate policy option,” the letter said. “Governments and the United Nations must assert effective political control and restrict the development of solar geoengineering technologies at planetary scale.”

“The risks of solar geoengineering are poorly understood and can never be fully known,” the letter said. “Impacts will vary across regions, and there are uncertainties about the effects on weather patterns, agriculture, and the provision of basic needs of food and water.” – READ MORE