SEMARNAT to Ban Experimentation with Solar Geoengineering

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For some years now, scientists and governments have been engaged in a fierce debate on various methods and technologies in order to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 

In this context, solar geoengineering has been presented as a possible answer to mitigate the effects of climate change by implementing a set of techniques and technologies that seek to reduce the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth, thereby reducing the heat that accumulates in the atmosphere.

One of the most studied techniques in geoengineering is "particle diffusion", which consists of launching millions of tons of fine particles into the stratosphere through the emission of gases such as sulfur dioxide, aluminum sulfate, among others, to reflect the sun's rays back into space, thus preventing the increase in temperature in a specific geographical area. 

However, several studies claim that this practice would generate negative and unequal consequences, causing meteorological imbalances such as winds and torrential rains, tropical droughts and thinning of the ozone layer.

For this reason, last January, the Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), issued a statement in which it said that it will prohibit experimentation with solar geoengineering in the national territory, since they claim that there are currently no international agreements or treaties that efficiently supervise this activity.

In addition, it was announced that the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) will coordinate a scientific investigation by experts in order to expose the serious risks generated by the practice of solar geoengineering for the environment, people and their community environments.

In this way, the Mexican public power, through the inter-institutional coordination between SEMARNAT and CONACYT, will carry out actions adhering to the precautionary principle to protect communities and environmental environments.



Fuente:

https://www.jornada.com.mx/notas/2023/01/14/sociedad/semarnat-y-conacyt-rechazan-ensayos-de-geoingenieria-solar/

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