More climate scientists are calling for stepped-up research into technologies to lower global temperatures, but some warn of unintended consequences.

One method of what is known as Solar Radiation Modification includes the injection of aerosols into the stratosphere to boost the reflection of incoming sunlight back into space.

David Reidmiller, chief impact officer for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, said it could alter rainfall patterns or entire ecosystems.

"I think we’re far away from having the confidence that deploying such a method at scale is a prudent course of action," Reidmiller explained. "I think there’s a lot of questions that need to be answered still."

Studies show global temperatures are expected to surpass the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit set by the 2016 Paris Agreement within the next few years. Reidmiller stressed all research options are on the table but the focus should remain on reducing greenhouse gases.

Climate change is already affecting every corner of Maine, and the Gulf of Maine is now considered one of the fastest-warming bodies of water on the planet. State lawmakers rejected two bills last year to outlaw geoengineering of the Earth’s climate. Some argued it was premature to ban a potentially beneficial technology.

Still, Reidmiller noted questions remain about how the technology would be enforced and whether it would give a green light to the continued burning of fossil fuels.

"We’re already conducting a massive and unprecedented experiment with the Earth’s system by pumping tons of CO2 into the atmosphere at a rate that has never happened before," Reidmiller pointed out. "So we’re already messing with the Earth’s system in ways that we didn’t anticipate the impacts of."

While the Trump administration continues to reject climate science and international efforts to limit emissions stall, a small number of companies are raising funds to pursue solar geoengineering experiments. The Environmental Protection Agency has released new online resources to address public concerns or questions about how regulators are tracking their progress.

Source: Public News Service