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And given that a reality in which we all ride bicycles and own nothing is unlikely, why is this not a real solution? It seems increasingly clear, especially gi

And given that a reality in which we all ride bicycles and own nothing is unlikely, why is this not a real solution? It seems increasingly clear, especially given this unexpected termination shock caused by the switch to low-sulfur fuel oil, that aerial dispersants should be taken seriously are a viable solution. What if we're past the point where shaming those who over-consume will effect any meaningful change in a timescale that will save us? I don't understand why it would be necessary to rob us of a 'beautiful blue sky', wouldn't a tiny fractional reduction in solar radiation would move the needle appreciably? Its not as if we'd have to create a supervolcano.

selimthegrim 3y ago
What is going to happen to the ozone with aerial dispersants?
BaseballPhysics 3y ago
Because it's not a solution. If we go down that road, we'll have no reason not to keep burning fossil fuels, pushing more and more CO2 into the atmosphere and acidifying the oceans. And that's ignoring the fact that the global climate system is just too damned complicated for us to safely move from accidentally modifying it to trying to deliberately modify it. If I believed it was a short-term stopgap while we get our shit together, I might be able to get onboard with the idea. But that ain't how humans work.
- distortionfield 3y ago
  Exactly this. Climate change isn’t only a sunlight problem.
jjk166 3y ago
The issue with using aerosols to cool the planet is that it doesn't address the root cause of the issue - the CO2 is still there. If you ever stop pumping out aerosols, the temperature will spike right back up very quickly. This makes the system very fragile. And remember, this stuff you now have to pump into the atmosphere is harmful in its own ways - it's toxic not only to vulnerable species but also to crops and to humans. Whether those consequences are better or worse than the full effects of climate change is debatable, but one way or another you ultimately need to find a way to get your environmental house in order.

selimthegrim 3y ago

What is going to happen to the ozone with aerial dispersants?

BaseballPhysics 3y ago

Because it's not a solution. If we go down that road, we'll have no reason not to keep burning fossil fuels, pushing more and more CO2 into the atmosphere and acidifying the oceans. And that's ignoring the fact that the global climate system is just too damned complicated for us to safely move from accidentally modifying it to trying to deliberately modify it. If I believed it was a short-term stopgap while we get our shit together, I might be able to get onboard with the idea. But that ain't how humans work.

distortionfield 3y ago
Exactly this. Climate change isn’t only a sunlight problem.

jjk166 3y ago

The issue with using aerosols to cool the planet is that it doesn't address the root cause of the issue - the CO2 is still there. If you ever stop pumping out aerosols, the temperature will spike right back up very quickly. This makes the system very fragile. And remember, this stuff you now have to pump into the atmosphere is harmful in its own ways - it's toxic not only to vulnerable species but also to crops and to humans. Whether those consequences are better or worse than the full effects of climate change is debatable, but one way or another you ultimately need to find a way to get your environmental house in order.