According to new research published on the White House website, the Biden administration is open to researching ways to block sunlight to save the Earth from climate change.
A federally mandated report on solar geoengineering was produced by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. According to the study, a dedicated team has been researching strategies to prevent the sun’s rays from driving global warming.
“These unknowns, and the ever-evolving understanding of complex Earth systems, provide a compelling case for research to better understand both the potential benefits and risks,” the report says.
Biden administration is investigating stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening
The report was created in response to a congressional mandate included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which directed the White House to create a “research governance framework to provide guidance on transparency, engagement, and risk management for publicly funded work in solar geoengineering research,” CNBC reported.
According to the report, the Biden administration is investigating “stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening.” Furthermore, the report cites research into “cirrus cloud thinning.”
According to the paper, research into “space-based approaches” has not been conducted because “geoengineering” is easier to implement.
According to the publication, “the focus on atmospheric approaches also follows from their greater near-term feasibility relative to space-based approaches.”
Blocking the sunlight: The research plan focuses on improving understanding of the potential impacts of SRM
The report further said, “It reads, “This Research plan focuses on improving understanding of the potential impacts of solar radiation modification (SRM), rather than on technologies needed for deployment. Much of this research would contribute to our ability to understand basic climate processes and effects of human greenhouse gas emissions, as well as outcomes of SRM.”
The summary continues, “A program of research into the scientific and societal implications of SRM would enable better-informed decisions about the potential risks and benefits of SRM as a component of climate policy.”