Democratic lawmakers sour on geoengineering climate hinted at by White House
Brady Knox
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Democratic lawmakers appeared to reject geoengineering to solve climate change, an idea floated by the White House.
In June, the White House released a report suggesting further study into the concept of solar radiation modification; a science fiction-like concept that would use a variety of methods to block or limit the sun’s rays from hitting Earth. The idea has been increasingly rejected by Democratic lawmakers.
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“Why try a complicated and potentially dangerous solution when we have the obvious one right in front of us?” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) posited, Politico reported.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, expressed worry over the idea, warning of “catastrophic” consequences if humans tried to tinker with the climate.
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Some Democrats have already tried to block any attempt at such a move; Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced legislation last year to block any attempt at funding solar radiation modification.
The White House is unlikely to exert pressure to reverse the skepticism, as its report contained only a suggestion that geoengineering be studied further.