1.

Geoengineering

Geoengineering is the intentional manipulation of our environment at the global scale. It

involves engaging in planetary-scale manipulation of the Earth in such a way as to offset the
warming impacts of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.

A variety of geoengineering schemes have been proposed. Some involve relatively

minimal manipulation with the environment. For example, carbon capture and sequestration
(CCS) involves capturing CO2 from emissions before they enter the atmosphere. Some
captured carbon is buried underground or in the deep ocean. Reforestation or building the
equivalent of artificial trees is used to suck capture carbon dioxide. Other ideas involve
fertilizing the ocean by adding iron, which is a limiting nutrient for marine phytoplankton. In
principle, this would enhance biological productivity and, therefore, lead to increased uptake
of atmospheric CO2 by the upper ocean.

Other schemes attempt to offset the surface warming influence of greenhouse gas
increases by reducing the amount of solar radiation impinging on the Earth's surface— so-
called solar radiation management. One such scheme involves mimicking the cooling effect of
volcanic eruptions by shooting sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere. Another scheme
involves placing large numbers of reflecting mirrors in space at a stable position in the Earth's
orbit. Related schemes involve increasing the Earth's surface albedo by various means.