Climate Engineering

An examination of schemes for large-scale interventions in Earth's natural systems--oceans, soils, and atmosphere--to reduce the adverse effects of climate change. Geoengineering refers to large-scale schemes for intervention in Earth's natural systems--oceans, soils and atmosphere--in an attempt to reduce the adverse effects of climate change, be it through solar radiation management, carbon dioxide removal or otherwise. Some critics consider this approach problematic as it is oriented towards technological solutions for global heating without reconsidering dominant economic and political structures, mitigation and restoration being understood merely in terms of such innovative fixes as injecting aerosols into the stratosphere. Its advocates argue that there actually is a way to build "a good Anthropocene," one that would allow for a socially and ecologically desirable future. In this case human action fulfills the role of Plato's proverbial pharmakon--both the poison and the cure.