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Climate Manipulation

In the what-if scenarios that seem to define discussions of global warming, here’s one that has captured the attention of scientists and ethicists alike: What if we failed to stop global warming by reducing emissions and instead shot massive particles into the atmosphere to block the sun’s rays?

This worst-case scenario, which evokes comic-book images of Saving-the-World-From-Doomsday, could well be within the realm of possibilities, according to a group of experts who recently met to discuss the concept of geoengineering.

Geoengineering refers to the science of how to use technology to manipulate the Earth’s climate. Some say the technology is far-fetched. Others believe it’s quite possible, but question whether we should travel down a road that would also produce the ability for nations to use climate control as weaponry. Militaries have been interested in such research for years, though nobody has yet developed it.

Still others fear that efforts to reduce greenhouse gases are taking too long and achieving far too little. If more is not done, they warn, we will be in need of some type of technology to save the planet. Over the past 100 years, the Earth’s temperature has risen 1.4 degrees and is projected to rise another 3.5 to 7 degrees in the next 50 years.

With the polar ice caps already melting faster than expected, warming to that degree could be catastrophic.

For now, geoengineering is just an idea. But as debate over what to do about climate change continues, it could soon become a lot more.

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To learn what you can do to slow global warming, visit www.fightglobalwarming.com.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org