Risky Climate
Fear of Geoengineering Is Really Anxiety About Cutting Carbon
Research into unproven technofixes isn’t a replacement for eliminating emissions, even if the debate over geoengineering is stuck on that concern.
The geoengineering debate is caught in false choice between cutting emissions, like those from cars, and researching the dire possibility of resorting to technofixes such as reflecting back a portion of sunlight.
Photographer: Samuel Corum/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
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Typical climate discourse is already polarizing enough, but it’s nothing compared to talk of “geoengineering.” Mention the catch-all term for emerging technologies that could offset some of the effects of climate change, and watch the world split into two distinct camps.