This Controversial Solution To Climate Change Might Be The Only Way To Cool The Earth
“It’s said to do harm…but the benefit might outweigh the consequences.”
For the longest time, we’ve been trying to figure out a solution to climate change.
The obvious solution is to stop the burning of fossil fuels. That would definitely ease the current situation in a significant way.
The current solution that has been proposed is quite questionable, to say the least.
Just yesterday I was out on one of my daily runs (I’m currently training for the Lake Tahoe 72 Mile Ultramarathon) and those infamous California wildfires that happen every year started their official march over into the Reno/Tahoe air.
I could see it in the air and just about a half mile into my run I can start to feel the difference in my breathing.
The smoke was definitely playing a factor in my performance.
It’s playing a factor in everyone’s performances. In their daily health. The air is just too dangerous.
Good thing that day the air quality was around moderate. Hence the reason I saw it fit for me to run.
Sometime after my run, I read an article in The New York Times about a scientist by the name of David Keith. Simply put, he’s proposing a solution that puts more stuff into the air with the intention to cool the earth, by blocking the sun.
The Stuff?
Sulfur Dioxide.
For people who aren’t familiar it what sulfur dioxide is, it’s a gas that kinda smells like rotten eggs. It’s made when things that contain sulfur, like coal or oil, are burned.
Sounds extremely interesting. Considering that we want to stop burning these things.
The good/bad thing about that is contributes directly to air pollution. Not to the greenhouse effect.
Sulfur dioxide is definitely harmful. I mean it even sounds harmful. But its proposed use will be in terms of the stratosphere, not the atmosphere.
The idea is that we inject large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, far above all of us, so that small sulfate particles start to form and then temporarily reflect the sun's rays back into space.
Keith has done several interviews already. Talking about how he believes that the consequences are not as drastic as a lot of critics are claiming them them to be. He also goes on about saying that the potential benefits greatly outweigh the risks involved.
Could he be right?
What are the consequences?
One of the main repercussions of putting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere is that it could lead to acid rain. Will then harm plants, aquatic life, all ecosystems ultimately.
Weather disruption is another big one. More extreme droughts and floods in particular regions could get worse.
Ozone layer damage.
The list goes on.
What’s impressive is that the idea is moving into real implementation.
With that being said, I’m pretty sure it’s only a matter of time before trials start. Keith did already attempt it. But was shot down by Indigenous protesters.
The Indigenous people believe that solar geoengineering; is “to be the direct opposite of the respect we as Indigenous Peoples are taught to treat nature with.”
Which I back 100%.
Instead of going farther down the rabbit hole, come back up.
This is where it gets fun. Some people have devoted their whole lives to what I’m about to mention. I plan on being part of it. And I am.
My Actionable Solution To Climate Change
I’m no policymaker or politician who could say some words and snap their fingers to make a significant change. But what I could do is spread awareness and inspire others to help make change.
I started my own foundation where I help raise awareness and funds to plant trees back into the most important tropical rainforest in the world; The Amazon Rainforest.
It’s in partnership with One Tree Planted.
It’s a growing passion of mine and one I plan to keep forever.
Even if climate change is mitigated, taking care of the Earth in positive ways is definitely still something worthwhile and fulfilling.
My foundation is called Amazon Revival Foundation. For every dollar donated 1 tree is planted back into the Amazon.
The Amazon has been experiencing extreme amounts of stress.
One main factor is deforestation. So I wanted to do what I could and combine my social media marketing skills with my environmental passion and help make a positive happen within the world.
That’s going to conclude my environmental story for the day. I’ll be writing way more often about this stuff.
The awareness is key to change.
Till my next piece!
Best, Bucho Abina III
Want to follow me on my journey?
I run a social media marketing agency called Climate Cause Media where we work with environmental nonprofits that help mitigate climate change.
My foundations: Shield Wildlife Foundation and Amazon Revival Foundation
My IG: bucho_abina
