Climate change is an increasingly big problem, and the more we learn about it the worse matters seem to be. Just last week a study was published that showed the most severe climate change predictions are the most likely to come true, which means the future might be worse than we thought. In the face of this extreme threat, extreme solutions might be required.

One of the most extreme possible solutions to climate change is geoengineering: altering the planet to reflect more heat into space or minimize the effects of the planet warming. These kinds of projects are risky as their results are impossible to fully predict and could be difficult to halt or reverse, but they could be our best shot at keeping climate change to a minimum. That’s why one member of Congress is trying to get scientists to really look into it.

Representative Jerry McNerney (D-CA) recently introduced a bill—called the Geoengineering Research Evaluation Act—that would direct the National Academies of Science to formally study geoengineering. The act would enable the nation’s experts on geoengineering to research different techniques and their possible impacts.

There are many different possible geoengineering methods, and they all work differently and have different possible consequences. For instance, one method involves filling the atmosphere with tiny particles to reflect extra sunlight, cooling the Earth. But a recent study found that doing that could trigger droughts in sub-Saharan Africa. Many geoengineering proposals could have similar side-effects.

That’s why it’s important that this new bill passes, so we find out what works and what doesn’t while we still have time. But it’ll be fighting an uphill battle. Lets hope it gets through so we can at least see what we're dealing with in terms of options.

Source: Wired

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