Britain Prepares to Test Geoengineering Solutions in Real-World Conditions

Blocking sunlight could temporarily slow the climate crisis but the technologies remain highly controversial

A group of UK scientists is preparing to carry out outdoor geoengineering experiments as part of a government-funded programme worth £50 million.

According to the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria), which is supporting the initiative, the trials will be small-scale, carefully monitored, and aimed at generating essential data to assess the potential of these technologies.

In addition to this programme, the government has allocated a further £11 million to related projects, positioning the UK as one of the world’s leading funders of geoengineering research.

Geoengineering remains a controversial topic. Several previous outdoor experiments have been cancelled due to strong public opposition. Most proposals focus on reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface, through methods such as releasing reflective particles into the atmosphere or using seawater sprays to brighten clouds.

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