By Abbas Nazil
Scientists have warned that solar geoengineering, if deployed irresponsibly by rogue actors, could intensify extreme weather events such as hurricanes, droughts, and forest dieback across the globe.
A new report by the UK’s Royal Society revealed that attempts to block sunlight above select regions could trigger catastrophic climatic imbalances.
The report found that unilateral or uncoordinated use of the technology could increase the frequency and severity of North Atlantic hurricanes, cause droughts in parts of Africa, and accelerate the collapse of the Amazon rainforest.
However, if used in a globally coordinated and sustained way, the scientists acknowledged that solar geoengineering could reduce global temperatures for decades or centuries.
Lead author Professor Keith Shine from the University of Reading stated that the world might one day face a difficult choice between the risks of deploying geoengineering and the growing dangers of unchecked global heating.
He stressed that any future deployment must be “scientifically informed, globally coordinated and internationally agreed” to avoid disastrous regional effects.
The report examined two key geoengineering methods: injecting sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight, and marine cloud brightening, which increases cloud reflectivity using seawater particles.
Researchers cited volcanic eruptions such as Mount Pinatubo in 1992, which temporarily cooled the planet by 0.5°C, as natural examples of the first method’s effects.
However, they cautioned that stopping geoengineering suddenly without cutting emissions would cause a “termination shock,” leading to a rapid 1–2°C temperature surge within two decades.
The Royal Society emphasized that geoengineering only masks the symptoms of climate change and cannot replace emission reductions.
Experts warned that the rise of private commercial ventures pursuing geoengineering without regulation poses serious global risks.
In April, the UK government launched a £50 million programme to fund small-scale geoengineering experiments under the Advanced Research and Invention Agency.
Despite potential benefits, scientists remain divided, with some urging research for preparedness while others fear it could legitimize dangerous shortcuts in the fight against the climate crisis.
