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The Next Big Idea Daily

Should We Turn Down the Sun?

Apr 18, 2025
Thomas Ramge, a science writer and author of 'Dimming the Sun', discusses the controversial topic of solar geoengineering as a potential response to climate change. He explores the idea of reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth, presenting it as a critical avenue amid rising temperatures. Ramge dives into the ethical dilemmas and risks associated with geoengineering, highlighting the need for international cooperation and effective governance to navigate this complex landscape responsibly.
12:43

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Solar geoengineering could provide a temporary solution to climate change while ethical and environmental concerns necessitate thorough discussion.
  • Implementing geoengineering raises governance challenges and highlights the need for regulatory frameworks to manage global actions responsibly.

Deep dives

The Case for Solar Geoengineering

Solar geoengineering presents a controversial but potentially vital approach to mitigating the effects of climate change. This technology, which involves reflecting sunlight away from the Earth to cool the planet, may serve as a temporary measure to buy crucial time before more sustainable solutions can be implemented. Despite the ethical and environmental concerns surrounding its use, experts argue that the dire state of climate change necessitates open discussions about solar geoengineering as a viable option. The financial implications are significant, as the cost of implementing such technology could be dwarfed by the potential savings in dealing with the consequences of climate change.

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