Spraying Diamond Dust: A Bold Proposal to Combat Global Warming Through Geoengineering

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Explained; Page: 12)

Topic: GS3 – Science & Technology GS3 – Environment

Context:

The article explores the potential of using diamond dust in solar radiation management (SRM) as a geoengineering solution to mitigate global warming, while discussing the challenges and risks associated with such interventions.

 Analysis of News:      

Spraying Diamond Dust: A Potential Climate Solution

• A new study suggests spraying millions of tonnes of diamond dust in the upper atmosphere could effectively reduce global warming.
• The concept involves reflecting solar radiation back into space to cool the Earth, an approach previously considered using materials like sulfur and calcium compounds.
• This method, termed solar radiation management (SRM), falls under broader geoengineering efforts aimed at altering Earth’s climate system.

 The Urgency of Cooling Measures

• Global warming has continued unabated, with temperatures already 1.2°C higher than pre-industrial levels. Current measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions have proven insufficient.
• Despite global pledges, emissions reductions are minimal, making it almost impossible to meet the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting the rise to 1.5°C.
• Scientists are exploring drastic technological solutions like geoengineering to temporarily cool the planet while emissions reduction strategies lag behind.

Geoengineering and SRM

• Geoengineering refers to large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate, with SRM aiming to prevent sunlight from reaching the Earth.
• Diamonds, the focus of the recent study, were found to be more effective than other materials previously tested.
• Achieving a temperature reduction of 1.6°C could require spraying 5 million tonnes of diamond dust annually. However, SRM is still theoretical, and no practical implementation has occurred so far.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

• Besides SRM, geoengineering also includes carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), where carbon emissions are trapped and stored underground.
• While CCS has been tested, its scalability and high costs remain significant barriers.
• Some innovative techniques, like direct air capture, are also under experimentation but face similar hurdles.

Challenges and Risks of SRM

• Although SRM offers promising results, it presents substantial technological, economic, and environmental challenges.
• Manipulating natural processes on a large scale could lead to unintended consequences like altering weather patterns, disrupting agriculture, and affecting biodiversity.
• The feasibility of deploying such technologies remains uncertain, with concerns over their effectiveness, costs, and long-term sustainability.

Conclusion: Geoengineering’s Role in Climate Solutions

• While geoengineering, especially SRM, offers potential quick fixes to mitigate global warming, it remains untested and fraught with risks.
• Both SRM and CCS technologies are seen as necessary, but practical and scalable solutions are yet to be realized.
• As global temperatures rise, these interventions could become critical, albeit contentious, tools in the fight against climate change.

Practice Question:  What are the potential benefits and challenges of using geoengineering methods like solar radiation management (SRM) to combat global warming, and how feasible are these solutions in addressing climate change? (250 words/15 m)