Geoengineering: a solution to the climate crisis?

Geoengineering refers to large-scale human interventions that use technology and science to alter the Earth's climate system. So far, humanity has been unsuccessful at resolving the catastrophic effects of climate change at a fast enough rate. This summer Greece recorded the highest temperature in its history, while wildfires continue to rage across Northern California, making some parts inhabitable. Geoengineering is being researched as a serious solution to the climate crisis, but how does it work? 

The primary type of geoengineering is carbon removal, which targets the suctioning of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. One method of achieving this is ocean fertilisation, which involves dumping iron dust into the ocean, triggering algal blooms to absorb CO2. Another branch of investigation is solar engineering, which uses sunlight reflection technology to block or trap heat before it reaches Earth, cooling the planet's temperature. 

Whilst this may sound like a rapid and promising solution to ever-rising global temperatures, engineering nature is a complex and controversial mission, which requires governments to take risks on unproven technologies. Furthermore, cooling the planet could destroy entire ecosystems. How would blocking and creating new light sources affect animals and agriculture? Will the sky still be blue? Can we rely upon a strategy that does not tackle the root cause of the climate crisis: human activity?