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Media articles related to climate interventions.

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British Antarctic Survey: our position on polar geoengineering

07 October 2026, British Antarctic Survey, www.bas.ac.uk

Ideas to deliberately intervene in polar environments – often described as geoengineering or climate intervention – are attracting increasing scientific, political and public attention. British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) position is that these interventions must not be treated as substitutes for rapid reductions to greenhouse-gas emissions. Human-induced emissions are the underlying cause of climate change, and achieving net zero is the only effective pathway for bringing climate change under control. Its success depends on immediate action rather than exploring intermittent solutions, such as geoengineering.

‘At first, the idea does sound crazy’: meet the scientists trying to refreeze the Arctic

16 June 2026, Damian Carrington, www.theguardian.com

Arctic sea ice loss has prompted interest in geoengineering approaches aimed at slowing ice decline, including techniques designed to increase ice thickness and extend seasonal coverage. Experiments to refreeze and reinforce sea ice are raising questions about whether such interventions could meaningfully influence Arctic warming, as well as concerns about their feasibility, environmental impacts, and role alongside emissions reductions. Research to rethicken it may be showing early signs of success.

Sea ice & icebergs -> Sea ice thickening

Arctic Sea Ice and Climate Stability: The Case for Prioritizing Sea Ice Restoration.

14 May 2026, Ocean Visions,

The paper synthesizes recent published literature and provides an overview on the current status of Arctic sea ice and its connection to critical earth system tipping points, overall global temperatures, to Arctic biological diversity, Arctic and global coastal communities, and the effects its loss on geopolitics. The paper finishes with an assessment of whether current climate actions are likely to maintain Arctic ice and given the negative prognosis, what other options might be available.

Sea ice & icebergs

DalSolutions: How Dalhousie is helping to transform Nova Scotia into a global hub for carbon removal

28 April 2026, Andrew Riley, www.dal.ca

Dalhousie researchers are helping to answer one of climate action’s most urgent questions: whether the ocean can safely remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at meaningful scale. Their work is positioning Nova Scotia as a global leader in carbon-dioxide removal while supporting the growth of a new climate-technology sector for the province.

Oceans & marine -> Ocean Alkalinity enhancement

Diamonds are not a geoengineer’s best friend

23 March 2026, Leah Shaffer, Climate interventions

The field of solar geoengineering revolves around the idea of cooling the globe via the injection of aerosols to reflect sunlight or to thin clouds. One such strategy, stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), aims to mimic the effects of a volcanic eruption. But sulfate aerosols are not ideal particles to deploy because of their negative environmental effects. Instead, researchers have used large-scale climate models to run virtual solar geoengineering experiments with different particles. Previous such research pointed to a sparkling alternative: diamond dust. However, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found it won’t work.

Atmosphere / solar radiation -> Arctic winter high-latitude seasonal stratospheric aerosol injection

Why a new generation of scientists is studying how to dim the sun

12 March 2026, Gloria Dickie, www.nationalobserver.com

A growing wave of Gen Z scientists and engineers across the world pursuing higher education in climate geoengineering, grasping for a feeling of agency as they inherit the woes wrought by older generations. Although a controversial topic, younger people seem much more open to research on the topic geoengineering.

Atmosphere / solar radiation -> Space-based solar radiation management

Geoengineering The Gulf Of Maine

10 March 2026, Steve Hanley,

The ocean is the largest carbon sink on Earth, holding about 38,000 gigatons of carbon. But when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it creates a weak acid that lowers the pH of the ocean. The lower the pH, the less carbon dioxide the ocean can absorb. Today, the ocean has the lowest pH in the last million years. Now, scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts have embarked on what they call the LOC-NESS project, which stands for “Locking Ocean Carbon in the Northeast Shelf and Slope.” The scientists say that “oceanic carbon is stored as dissolved bicarbonate — essentially dissolved baking soda — thanks to the natural weathering processes that enhance ocean alkalinity on geological timescales.”

Oceans & marine -> Ocean Alkalinity enhancement

Scientists pump 65,000 litres of chemicals into the ocean to stop global warming

10 March 2026, William Hunter, Climate interventions

The oceans already hold around 38,000 billion tonnes of CO2, trapped as dissolved sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. The geoengineering method known as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) aims to speed up this natural process by resetting the ocean's pH.

Oceans & marine -> Ocean Alkalinity enhancement

Sinking trees into the Arctic Ocean could reduce carbon emissions. But is it worth it?

20 February 2026, Bob MacDonalad, www.cbc.ca

Trees are well known for their ability to store carbon dioxide, but this storage solution is not forever. When trees rot or burn in a wildfire, they release that carbon back into the atmosphere. A group of scientists from the UK, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic proposed an idea to sink mature trees from the vast boreal forest into the deep Arctic Ocean to lock away their carbon for centuries to come.

Land-based measures

New report: Can Phytoplankton Help Close the Carbon Dioxide Removal Gap?

03 February 2026, Ocean Visions, oceanvisions.org

This report evaluates the current state of knowledge on this category of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approaches that would enhance the ocean’s natural ability to absorb and store carbon. The report identifies what is already known about phytoplankton-based pathways, as well as the key scientific, environmental, and social questions that still must be answered so that decisions about future development or deployment can be made.

Oceans & marine -> Ocean fertilization

Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – our new study examines each method’s risks

14 January 2026, Kelsey Roberts, Daniele Visioni, Morgan Raven, Tyler Rohr, theconversation.com

Scientists, governments, and a growing number of startups are exploring ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or at least temporarily counter its effects. But these climate interventions come with risks—especially for the ocean, the world’s largest carbon sink, where carbon is absorbed and stored, and the foundation of global food security. In a new study, a team of researchers analyzed how different types of climate interventions could affect marine ecosystems, for good or bad, and where more research is needed to understand the risks before anyone tries them on a large scale. They found that some strategies carry fewer risks than others, though none is free of consequences.

Oceans & marine

The Scientists Making Antacids for the Sea to Help Counter Global Warming

08 January 2026, Ferris Jabr, Climate interventions

Oceans absorb about one-third of humanity’s heat-trapping carbon emissions. Without this buffer, the planet would be substantially warmer and more tempestuous than it is today. As carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, however, it changes the ocean, reducing its capacity to absorb more carbon and threatening marine life. Scientists are now exploring ocean-based carbon geoengineering known as ocean alkalinity enhancement, which involves adding chemicals to make oceans less acidic. Modifying the planet’s chemistry in this way may allow more carbon to flow from the atmosphere to the ocean, where it can be stored for thousands of years.

Oceans & marine -> Ocean Alkalinity enhancement

We study glaciers. ‘Artificial glaciers’ and other tech may halt their total collapse

07 January 2026, Brent Minchew and Colin Meyer, www.theguardian.com

Sea levels are rising faster than at any point in human history, and for every foot that waters rise, 100 million people lose their homes. At current projections, that means about 300 million people will be forced to move in the decades to come, along with the social and political conflict as people migrate inland. How might we prevent sea-level rise? Satellite-based radar, solar-powered drones, robot submarines and lab-based ‘artificial glaciers’ could all play a role.

Ice sheets and glaciers

We can safely experiment with reflecting sunlight away from Earth. Here’s how

06 January 2026, Dakota Gruener and Daniele Visioni, www.theguardian.com

The world is warming fast and our options to avoid catastrophic harm are narrowing. 2024 was the first full year more than 1.5C hotter than the 19th-century average. Emissions are still rising, with fossil fuel use expected to hit a new high in 2025. Cutting emissions and scaling carbon removal remain essential. But they may not be enough. Reflecting a small fraction of incoming sunlight to reduce global heating is not a new idea. It is time to safely experiment.

Atmosphere / solar radiation -> Space-based solar radiation management

Scientists Divided Over Polar Geoengineering Study

26 September 2025, Linus Boselius, srm360.org

A recent study reviewed several polar geoengineering approaches, including stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). It concluded that all approaches would be ineffective and dangerous, and recommended against any further research – conclusions that were contested by other experts in the field.

Polar geoengineering: risks and realities

09 September 2025, Various, www.frontiersin.org

Earth’s coldest regions help regulate the global climate, but climate change-driven warming is destabilizing polar ice at alarming rates. Could large-scale geoengineering proposals protect against ice-sheet loss and slow down sea-level rise? Siegert et al. critically assess five proposed technologies for effectiveness, feasibility, consequences, cost, and governance challenges, concluding that none are currently viable and several pose serious ecological or equity risks. The technologies assessed are stratospheric aerosol injection, sea curtains/sea walls, sea ice management, slowing ice sheet flow through basal water removal, and ocean fertilization. The lead article, and complementary publications in this hub, analyze the scientific and policy dimensions of polar geoengineering research, with perspectives ranging from caution to advocacy, and emphasize the continued urgency of rapid decarbonization.

Protecting Permafrost: Addressing the Climate Threat of Arctic Thaw

01 September 2025, Ian Graham, cascadeinstitute.org

Protecting Permafrost: Addressing the Climate Threat of Arctic Thaw examines the significant climate threat posed by Arctic permafrost thaw. Climate heating is causing permafrost to thaw, leading to the release of heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which in turn accelerates climate change. The report assesses 13 potential interventions to slow or stop thaw and reduce emissions, with three being ready for deployment: wildfire management, caribou herding, and conservation or restoration of peatlands and wetlands. We emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach, including improving scientific understanding, gathering better data, developing permafrost thaw models, and creating governance frameworks.

Land-based measures

Woods Hole Tests Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in Gulf of Maine for CO2 Capture

12 August 2025, Victoria Mossi , www.webpronews.com

Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will test ocean alkalinity enhancement by adding 20 tons of sodium hydroxide to the Gulf of Maine, aiming to boost CO2 absorption and combat climate change. While promising for carbon sequestration, it raises ecological and ethical concerns. Success could advance geoengineering, but rigorous monitoring is essential. Collaborations with institutions like those involved in the Arctic Ocean 2050 program could also inform how alkalinity enhancements interact with polar ecosystems facing rapid warming.

Oceans & marine -> Ocean Alkalinity enhancement

Workshop Report: The Governance of Arctic Climate Interventions

11 August 2025, Odessa Chitty, Justin Barnes, Elizabeth Hanlon, Jennifer Spence and Tessa Varvares, www.belfercenter.org

This report is based on insights from a two-day workshop hosted by the Belfer Center’s Arctic Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School in late April 2025. The workshop brought together Indigenous, technical, academic, policy, and legal experts and practitioners to discuss the governance of research, testing, and potential deployment(s) of climate interventions in the Arctic. This workshop was convened to facilitate Arctic-specific discussions about the governance of climate interventions with the view that this is both important and timely. Its aim was to provide a space to move beyond polarizing positions, enable constructive discussions, and consider and further develop Arctic-specific research questions and issues. This report aims to capture what occurred at the workshop, but at most, it provides only a snapshot of the diversity of perspectives and voices related to this topic in the Arctic region.

Could bouncing the sun’s heat back into space help solve the climate crisis?

07 August 2025, Seán Duke, www.irishtimes.com

As global temperatures climb and extreme weather events become more frequent, scientists are exploring the use of solar geoengineering, a set of different measures all geared towards reflecting sunlight and cooling the Earth. “The world is making progress on emissions,” says solar geoengineering researcher Dr Pete Irvine of the University of Chicago, “but even if every country meets its current pledges, we are still tracking towards more than 2.5 degrees of warming by century’s end.” That level of warming could lead to severe impacts such as loss of biodiversity, health crises and unchecked polar melting. In addition to solar geoengineering, enhanced weathering and direct carbon capture are two other technologies actively being researched to help bring down the temperature.

Atmosphere / solar radiation

Results

"British Antarctic Survey: our position on polar geoengineering"

07 October 2026, British Antarctic Survey, www.bas.ac.uk

"‘At first, the idea does sound crazy’: meet the scientists trying to refreeze the Arctic"

16 June 2026, Damian Carrington, www.theguardian.com

"Arctic Sea Ice and Climate Stability: The Case for Prioritizing Sea Ice Restoration. "

14 May 2026, Ocean Visions,

"DalSolutions: How Dalhousie is helping to transform Nova Scotia into a global hub for carbon removal"

28 April 2026, Andrew Riley, www.dal.ca

"Diamonds are not a geoengineer’s best friend"

23 March 2026, Leah Shaffer, Climate interventions

"Why a new generation of scientists is studying how to dim the sun"

12 March 2026, Gloria Dickie, www.nationalobserver.com

"Geoengineering The Gulf Of Maine "

10 March 2026, Steve Hanley,

"Scientists pump 65,000 litres of chemicals into the ocean to stop global warming"

10 March 2026, William Hunter, Climate interventions

"Sinking trees into the Arctic Ocean could reduce carbon emissions. But is it worth it?"

20 February 2026, Bob MacDonalad, www.cbc.ca

"New report: Can Phytoplankton Help Close the Carbon Dioxide Removal Gap?"

03 February 2026, Ocean Visions, oceanvisions.org

"Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – our new study examines each method’s risks"

14 January 2026, Kelsey Roberts, Daniele Visioni, Morgan Raven, Tyler Rohr, theconversation.com

"The Scientists Making Antacids for the Sea to Help Counter Global Warming"

08 January 2026, Ferris Jabr, Climate interventions

"We study glaciers. ‘Artificial glaciers’ and other tech may halt their total collapse"

07 January 2026, Brent Minchew and Colin Meyer, www.theguardian.com

"We can safely experiment with reflecting sunlight away from Earth. Here’s how"

06 January 2026, Dakota Gruener and Daniele Visioni, www.theguardian.com

"Scientists Divided Over Polar Geoengineering Study"

26 September 2025, Linus Boselius, srm360.org

"Polar geoengineering: risks and realities"

09 September 2025, Various, www.frontiersin.org

"Protecting Permafrost: Addressing the Climate Threat of Arctic Thaw "

01 September 2025, Ian Graham, cascadeinstitute.org

"Woods Hole Tests Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in Gulf of Maine for CO2 Capture"

12 August 2025, Victoria Mossi , www.webpronews.com

"Workshop Report: The Governance of Arctic Climate Interventions"

11 August 2025, Odessa Chitty, Justin Barnes, Elizabeth Hanlon, Jennifer Spence and Tessa Varvares, www.belfercenter.org

"Could bouncing the sun’s heat back into space help solve the climate crisis?"

07 August 2025, Seán Duke, www.irishtimes.com

Media

Filter

British Antarctic Survey: our position on polar geoengineering

‘At first, the idea does sound crazy’: meet the scientists trying to refreeze the Arctic

Arctic Sea Ice and Climate Stability: The Case for Prioritizing Sea Ice Restoration.

DalSolutions: How Dalhousie is helping to transform Nova Scotia into a global hub for carbon removal

Diamonds are not a geoengineer’s best friend

Why a new generation of scientists is studying how to dim the sun

Geoengineering The Gulf Of Maine

Scientists pump 65,000 litres of chemicals into the ocean to stop global warming

Sinking trees into the Arctic Ocean could reduce carbon emissions. But is it worth it?

New report: Can Phytoplankton Help Close the Carbon Dioxide Removal Gap?

Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – our new study examines each method’s risks

The Scientists Making Antacids for the Sea to Help Counter Global Warming

We study glaciers. ‘Artificial glaciers’ and other tech may halt their total collapse

We can safely experiment with reflecting sunlight away from Earth. Here’s how

Scientists Divided Over Polar Geoengineering Study

Polar geoengineering: risks and realities

Protecting Permafrost: Addressing the Climate Threat of Arctic Thaw

Woods Hole Tests Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in Gulf of Maine for CO2 Capture

Workshop Report: The Governance of Arctic Climate Interventions

Could bouncing the sun’s heat back into space help solve the climate crisis?

Results

"British Antarctic Survey: our position on polar geoengineering"

"‘At first, the idea does sound crazy’: meet the scientists trying to refreeze the Arctic"

"Arctic Sea Ice and Climate Stability: The Case for Prioritizing Sea Ice Restoration. "

"DalSolutions: How Dalhousie is helping to transform Nova Scotia into a global hub for carbon removal"

"Diamonds are not a geoengineer’s best friend"

"Why a new generation of scientists is studying how to dim the sun"

"Geoengineering The Gulf Of Maine "

"Scientists pump 65,000 litres of chemicals into the ocean to stop global warming"

"Sinking trees into the Arctic Ocean could reduce carbon emissions. But is it worth it?"

"New report: Can Phytoplankton Help Close the Carbon Dioxide Removal Gap?"

"Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – our new study examines each method’s risks"

"The Scientists Making Antacids for the Sea to Help Counter Global Warming"

"We study glaciers. ‘Artificial glaciers’ and other tech may halt their total collapse"

"We can safely experiment with reflecting sunlight away from Earth. Here’s how"

"Scientists Divided Over Polar Geoengineering Study"

"Polar geoengineering: risks and realities"

"Protecting Permafrost: Addressing the Climate Threat of Arctic Thaw "

"Woods Hole Tests Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in Gulf of Maine for CO2 Capture"

"Workshop Report: The Governance of Arctic Climate Interventions"

"Could bouncing the sun’s heat back into space help solve the climate crisis?"