As the Arctic rapidly warms, scientists are fiercely debating whether technological interventions are necessary or foolhardy.
A recent paper in the research journal Frontiers in Science suggests that that polar geoengineering could cost billions of dollars, risk serious environmental damage and lure world leaders away from their carbon-cutting commitments. Written by 39 researchers from around the world, the paper concludes that geoengineering is not a feasible strategy.
But some scientists say technological cooling interventions may be needed to safeguard the world’s fastest warming region.
“I think it’s time to look at any other tools that might help as well,” John Moore, a polar scientist at the University of Lapland, said Tuesday. “We obviously need decarbonization, but it’s not proceeding fast enough.”
