This chapter explores the concept of solar geoengineering and the debate surrounding its feasibility and desirability. It introduces the debaters and discusses two open letters from scientists and scholars with differing viewpoints on the topic.
Right now, climate engineers are working on new technologies, called solar geoengineering, that would reflect the sun’s rays away from Earth as a way to cool the planet. Those in favor argue it would be inexpensive and effective, and could buy us time to get carbon emissions down before the worst impacts of climate change. But others argue it would distract from the underlying issues of climate change and express concern about who would control such a powerful technology. So we debate: Is Engineering Solar Radiation A Crazy Idea?