Planet Coolers
50:31 | VPRO Backlight dives into the world of climate engineering: scientists and start-ups trying to use technological means to cool the earth. How hopeful or risky are these techniques?
The climate crisis: Can smart ideas save the planet?
28:25 | Can high-tech solutions help protect the climate? What would be the side effects of further human intervention in nature?
Should we reflect sunlight to cool the planet?
9:56 | Solar geoengineering happens in nature when huge volcanic eruptions cover the stratosphere with ash. Solar geoengineering takes advantage of that principle, using different scientific methods to make the planet more reflective overall.
Solar Geoengineering: Should we artificially cool the planet?
12:51 | Could it become the last option to stop global warming or is it an insane intervention? Here are three mind blowing ideas how this might work.
Fine-tuning the climate
42:25 | Engineers and scientists are trying to intervene in the Earth’s geochemical cycles. Because it appears efforts to cut CO2 won’t suffice to avoid irreversible climate change. But does geoengineering offer a real solution? Or is it just human hubris?
Space Shades: Humanity’s Last Hope
28:45 | Space shades are often touted as our last hope if our climate change situation gets too out of control.
The new urgency of climate change
10:45 | The coronavirus brought much of the world to a standstill, dropping carbon emissions by five percent. Al Gore says keeping those rates down is now up to us.
Could Geoengineering save us from climate change?
12:44 | We look at how silver bullet geoengineering ideas can be appealing in theory, but in practice they often have a lot of ethical, economic, and social drawbacks.
Ways to cool the world
42:26 | Scientists are testing new technologies they hope could counteract the effects of climate change. But how could that work on a global scale? And – if it is possible at all – what are the dangers?
Emergency medicine for our climate fever
14:49 | As we recklessly warm the planet by pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, some industrial emissions also produce particles that reflect sunshine back into space.
A Discussion About Counter-Geoengineering: Reflections on New Research
19:06 | David Keith, Josh Horton, and Pete Irvine of Harvard University discuss the pros and cons of counter-geoengineering.
Geo-Engineering: High-tech and Climate Change
4:46 | Many view geo-engineering methods as promising business opportunities. Others see them as incalculable risks.
Using Space Mirrors to Cool the Globe
4:42 | What if we could reflect some of the sun’s energy away before it had a chance to get trapped?
Geoengineering – can we suck the CO2 out?
13:34 | Geoengineering has really split the scientific community. Some believe we’ll be meddling even more with the balance of our biosphere without really understanding the consequences. Others believe we’ve got nothing to lose.
The Science – and Oft-Ignored Side Effects – of Geoengineering
46:16 | Prof. Daniel Cziczo provides an overview of the climate change issue and then a critique of geoengineering.
Can geoengineering save the planet from climate change?
12:25 | Can geoengineering help mitigate the risks of climate change? CBC’s Bob McDonald takes a closer look.
Could Geoengineering cancel Climate Change?
3:49 | If we overheat the planet – can’t we just cool it down again? Or can’t we just wait till it cools down by itself? And how can you look this good when you’re 62 and 3/4?!
What to Know about Geoengineering
29:11 | Professor Daniel Cziczo explains the CO2 problem and the three major types of geoengineering. We learn why the only viable approach is CO2 sequestration — pulling the CO2 out of the atmosphere.