Geoengineering is a climate-change solution that's right at our fingertips. Currently, researchers are studying the long-term effects of atmospheric chemicals that could reverse the excess carbon released into the planet, as well as block out solar radiation from further heating the planet. At this point in time, our planet has risen nearly 2 degrees hotter on average since the year 1880. The hotter the planet becomes, the more at risk we are for rising sea levels and coming weather catastrophes. Climate change will continue to be a threat until we do something about it, and while there's always risks attached to change, the benefit to our planet is well worth the efforts of implementing global geoengineering.
Currently, the level of carbon in our atmosphere is higher than it has been in the past 400,000 years (NASA). Earth naturally produces carbon, however, we as humans
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As far at the cost is concerned, it isn't expensive at all compared to the cost of mitigation. The volume of sulfates released into the atmosphere would never equal enough to acidify our ocean waters, and the result of plant life interacting with the sulfates is, actually, a positive one (wiley.com). However, sulfates are proven to be damaging to the atmosphere. With this being said, Harvard students have already begun to research other chemicals that could block out the sun's rays without damaging the ozone layer. "...calcite, a constituent of limestone, could counter ozone loss by neutralizing emissions-borne acids in the atmosphere, while also reflecting light and cooling the planet" (Harvard.edu). It's extremely important that when discovering risks, we do further research to make our technologies safer – but we mustn't be so blinded by risks that we forget the life-saving benefits of these