introduce a widespread range of new risks to people and ecosystems, which are not well understood<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\nHow is SRM evaluated in developing countries?<\/h3>\n
\u201cThe frequency at which power supply cuts are happening causes disruption to sample integrity in laboratories,\u201d said Andreas Meyer, a biodiversity scientist at the University of Cape Town. The organisation says it neither promotes nor opposes the technology but \u201cbuilds the capacity of developing countries to evaluate SRM.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scientists in Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda are among the countries to receive solar geoengineering funding. This comes on top of existing research projects funded by the NGO in Kenya, Benin, and South Africa.<\/p>\n
Nana Ama Browne Klutse, an associate professor at the University of Ghana and an IPCC lead author, will research how SRM could affect temperature, humidity, and rainfall in southwestern Africa.<\/p>\n
Moreover, in South Africa, Andreas Meyer, a biodiversity scientist at the African Climate & Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town, is leading a team studying whether solar geoengineering could offset species\u2019 exposure to unsafe climates. The team will also look at SRM\u2019s impact on the distribution of mosquitoes, which transmit diseases such as dengue, Zika, and Rift Valley fever.<\/p>\n
Meyer explained: \u201cDeveloping countries are on the front line of climate change. Therefore, they could be the biggest winners if SRM works well or the biggest losers if it goes wrong. This is why it is important for developing countries to do research not only on solar geoengineering but on all aspects of climate change. Having more experts will give developing countries a stronger voice in these conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSolar geoengineering is a distraction from addressing the root causes of climate change\u201d<\/h3>\n
Andy Parker, chief executive of the Degrees Initiative, claimed that Africa is becoming a research leader in this space.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conversation around SRM is increasing around the world because people are starting to ask what the options are for addressing climate change if reducing emissions proves insufficient,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
However, SRM can never supplement the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, nor is it a magical fix to climate change. Critics of the technology argue that the focus on SRM is a distraction from addressing the root causes of climate change and the world\u2019s dependence on fossil fuels. Moreover, they say the technology offers polluters an avenue to avoid taking climate action.<\/p>\n
Chukwumerije Okereke, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development in Nigeria and a visiting professor in environment and development at the University of Reading, opposes the use of solar geoengineering because of the associated risks and lack of governance over the technology.<\/p>\n
He advised against normalising research on SRM, which may present the technology as a next step to addressing global warming and lead to experiments on the continent. \u201cI am sceptical that it will benefit Africa,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
Nnimmo Bassey, an environmental activist and director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation think tank, also opposes solar geoengineering research. He commented: \u201cExperiments can only be useful if conducted at planetary scale. Experimenting at that scale is utterly unacceptable. Climate engineering presents unique risks for vulnerable regions and will definitely deepen climate injustices and carbon colonialism.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Researchers in Africa are set to receive grants worth tens of thousands of dollars to study the impact of solar geoengineering. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":30703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433],"tags":[689],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Solar geoengineering research boosted despite climate change worries<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n