British scientists are preparing to start a government-funded project that could change the way Earth handles climate change.
With £50 million set aside, researchers will soon begin experiments aimed at reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the planet’s surface, hoping to slow down global warming.
The project will explore several methods to block sunlight. Some of the ideas being studied include spraying reflective particles high into the atmosphere, using seawater sprays to brighten clouds, or thinning cirrus clouds that trap heat near the ground. These experiments are designed to see if cooling the planet in this way is possible without causing other problems.
The plan is to temporarily cool Earth’s surface while longer-term efforts to cut carbon emissions continue. Scientists see this as a possible way to prevent climate tipping points, such as the melting of Arctic ice or the collapse of major rainforests, both of which would cause severe damage to the environment and human life.
The research will be led by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, or ARIA, a group created by the government to fund innovative science. ARIA has a total budget of £800 million over the next four years and is putting part of that into this project to see if geoengineering could become a useful tool against climate change.
Concerns remain about the risks involved. Some experts warn that blocking sunlight could disrupt global weather patterns, possibly leading to droughts or shifting rain away from areas that rely on it for crops. Critics also worry that focusing on quick fixes could reduce the urgency to stop burning fossil fuels, the root cause of the climate crisis.
The team behind the project knows that cutting greenhouse gas emissions is the main way to stop climate change. But with progress slower than hoped, they believe it is important to explore temporary measures that could prevent the worst impacts while the world transitions to clean energy.
The project is still in the early stages and will involve careful study before any large-scale actions are taken. Researchers aim to fully understand the risks and possibilities before making any real changes to the atmosphere. They want to find out if it is truly possible to cool the planet safely while avoiding new environmental problems.