What if the sky turned white?​

Created By RISC | 4 years ago

Last modified date : 3 years ago

How would you or your children feel about living under a white sky? ​

Sulfate aerosol particles to reflect sunlight and reduce global temperatures could be vital for solar geoengineering to protect us from the greenhouse effect. ​

While many people are beginning to adopt low-carbon lifestyles, we haven’t achieved net-zero. The world will continue to warm from the carbon we release. When temperatures rise by more than 2°C beyond pre-industrial levels, we may reach a tipping point. ​

Spraying sulfate particles into the stratosphere can reduce sunlight reaching the surface. The tiny particles scatter and reflect light and could lower the earth's temperature if there are enough of them. ​

Unfortunately, there’s a downside… Sulfates could form sulfuric acid, harming the ozone layer. The particles might also affect wind direction and global climate. Different countries would have to agree to this strategy because it would influence nations around the world. ​

It’s a tough solution to implement. The most straightforward response to global warming is to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions to zero. Everyone, every organization, and every country must work together to tackle this problem. Only we, the people of the world, can solve it. ​

Story by: Woraporn Poonyakanok, Senior Research Engineer at RISC

Reference: Kolbert, E. (2021). Under a white sky: The nature of the future. The Bodley Head.   ​
Give research into solar geoengineering a chance: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01243-0