Solar geoengineering, also called solar radiation management (SRM), is a type of climate engineering that aims to reflect sunlight back into space to limit or offset human-caused climate change. There are multiple potential approaches, with stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) being the most-studied method, followed by marine cloud brightening (MCB). Other methods have been proposed, including a variety of space-based approaches, but they are generally considered less viable, and are not taken seriously by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Solar geoengineering, also called solar radiation management (SRM), is a type of climate engineering that aims to reflect sunlight back into space to limit or offset human-caused climate change. There are multiple potential approaches, with stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) being the most-studied method, followed by marine cloud brightening (MCB). Other methods have been proposed, including a variety of space-based approaches, but they are generally considered less viable, and are not taken seriously by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Solar geoengineering is a controversial topic, with some scientists and policymakers arguing that it could be a necessary tool to mitigate the effects of climate change, while others warn of the potential risks and unintended consequences.

The main risks of solar geoengineering include:

• Unintended consequences: Solar geoengineering could have a number of unintended consequences, such as disrupting weather patterns, affecting agricultural yields, or increasing the risk of ocean acidification.
• Moral hazard: If solar geoengineering is used to offset the effects of climate change, it could lead to a decrease in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Geopolitical implications: Solar geoengineering could have significant geopolitical implications, as countries may compete to control the technology or to prevent others from using it.

Overall, solar geoengineering is a complex and controversial topic with a number of potential risks. More research is needed to understand the risks and benefits of solar geoengineering before it can be considered as a serious option for mitigating climate change.

Here are some of the potential benefits of solar geoengineering:

• Could help to mitigate the effects of climate change: Solar geoengineering could help to reduce the amount of warming caused by greenhouse gases.
• Could be implemented relatively quickly: Solar geoengineering could be implemented relatively quickly, compared to other climate change mitigation measures.
• Could be relatively inexpensive: Solar geoengineering could be relatively inexpensive, compared to other climate change mitigation measures.

However, it is important to note that these are just potential benefits, and there is no guarantee that solar geoengineering would actually be effective or have no negative side effects. More research is needed to understand the full risks and benefits of solar geoengineering before it can be considered as a serious option for mitigating climate change.