The End of Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Experiment: A Brief History and Its Impact on Climate Change Debates

Friday - April 5 2024, 13:06 UTC - 9 months ago

The first proposed solar geoengineering experiment, known as SCoPEx, was intended to test the feasibility and potential impact of counteracting climate change through manipulating the Earth's atmosphere. However, it faced numerous delays and ultimately, termination due to opposition from various groups and concerns about its potential consequences. The debate about the role of solar geoengineering in addressing climate change continues despite the end of this project.

In late March of 2017, at a small summit in Washington, DC, two Harvard professors, David Keith and Frank Keutsch, laid out plans to conduct what would have been the first solar geoengineering experiment in the stratosphere. The idea of solar geoengineering, or the deliberate manipulation of the Earth's climate system to counteract the effects of climate change, has been around since the 1960s. However, it wasn't until the later part of the 2010s that a team of researchers proposed an actual experiment using the technique.

The proposed experiment, known as the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment or SCoPEx, aimed to test the feasibility and potential impact of solar geoengineering. The plan was to launch a high-altitude balloon from a site in Tucson, Arizona, equipped with sensors and propellers to spray a few kilograms of reflective particles into the stratosphere. The team would then measure how the particles dispersed and how effective they were at reflecting sunlight back into space.

But the initial launch did not happen as planned in 2018, and it continued to face delays in subsequent years. Complications with balloon vendors, the onset of the covid pandemic, and internal debates at Harvard all contributed to the project's postponement. However, the opposition from various groups and individuals who expressed concerns about the project's potential consequences ultimately led to its termination in early 2024.

The criticism surrounding the SCoPEx experiment highlights the ongoing debate about the use of solar geoengineering as a climate solution. Proponents argue that it could be a necessary backup plan if we fail to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in time. They also believe that careful research and consideration can mitigate potential negative effects and ensure that the technology is used responsibly and equitably.

On the other hand, opponents believe that solar geoengineering is too dangerous to even research, as it could have unpredictable and potentially disastrous effects. They also argue that focusing on solar geoengineering detracts from the urgency of reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Some fear that the mere discussion and consideration of such a powerful tool could lead to unilateral actions by nations or groups, potentially causing violent conflicts over its use.

The termination of the SCoPEx project has shown how polarized and contentious the topic of solar geoengineering remains. However, it is important to note that the end of this particular experiment does not mark the end of solar geoengineering research as a whole. Other projects and studies are still ongoing, and the debate about its potential role in addressing climate change will undoubtedly continue.