UK Plans £57M Solar Geoengineering Experiments to Combat Warming

The UK government-backed Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is funding nearly £57 million to investigate geoengineering techniques aimed at reducing the intensity of sunlight reaching Earth to combat global warming. The research includes experimental methods such as spraying aerosolized particles into the stratosphere and brightening clouds with marine salt particles to increase reflectivity and temporarily lower global temperatures. These experiments, expected to begin around 2027, aim to gather critical data on the feasibility and safety of solar radiation modification (SRM) as a climate cooling strategy amid concerns over approaching ecological tipping points. While some scientists view the research as necessary given the increasing threat of irreversible climate change, others warn of potential unintended consequences like disrupted weather patterns, droughts, and health risks. Critics also caution that such geoengineering efforts could distract from urgent emission reductions. Overall, the efforts reflect a growing scientific debate on whether controlled solar geoengineering could serve as a temporary measure to buy time against accelerating global warming.