Scientists are resorting to once unthinkable techniques to cool the planet because global efforts to check greenhouse gas emissions are failing. Geoengineering isn’t a substitute for reducing emissions, according to scientists and business leaders involved in the projects. Scientists hope bigger, brighter clouds will reflect sunlight away from the Earth, shade the ocean surface and cool the waters around the Great Barrier Reef, where warming ocean temperatures have contributed to massive coral die-offs. The release of sodium hydroxide, which will require the approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is planned for August. “There’s a huge political hesitancy to do outdoor perturbative experiments," said Jessica Seddon, a senior fellow at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 14, 2024 12:53 UTC