Race to study Earth-cooling tech moving faster than you think

Plus, wildfire season bursts to life in California, with 13 times more acres already burned than last year.

In today’s edition:

— EDF takes geoengineering to controversial next level

— General Atlantic takes stake in British energy efficiency investor SDCL

— Making more ice in the Arctic? It’s an actual plan.

— Rapid adoption of clean energy needed to cut consumer costs, IEA says

— Wildfire season off to roaring start in California, with 42,000 acres already burned

Climate-driven increases in future wildfire smoke pollution could cause a cumulative 700,000 excess deaths between 2025-2055, according to a new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research. When monetized, climate-induced smoke deaths result in annual damages of $244 billion by mid-century, researchers say.

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Less than a week after we wrote about a third experiment in “geoengineering” the Earth’s atmosphere to combat climate change with a forecast of more to come, one of the largest and most credible environmental groups said it would back more research into technologies to alter nature.

The Environmental Defense Fund plans to invest what could be millions into the study of ways to reflect sunlight back into space, according to reports, entering an area once deemed taboo by climate scientists but now being reconsidered as a last resort.

Small bands of climate scientists have attempted to spray liquified salt into the clouds to study how they adapt to wind currents but each time their experiments were halted by nervous authorities. The concept had previously been confined to the realm of science fiction because of fears we might accidentally alter climate patterns that could threaten more storms, droughts, or even sunlight itself.

EDF’s support for further research comes as scientists increasingly begin to think humanity will have to resort to a risky fix like this because existing technologies such as carbon removal are not moving fast enough to stop the ravages of global warming. Just last night I was speaking with a renowned climate scientist about the latest experiment last week in Alameda, Calif., about the idea of more defined research becoming necessary, despite the concerns.

Like stem cell research, artificial foods, AI and other technologies once deemed too scary to condone, geoengineering’s time has come. As the prohibitions give way to research and study, we expect things to move fast to the experimental stage.

Don’t forget to contact me directly if you have suggestions or ideas at dcallaway@callawayclimateinsights.com.

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Sustainable Development Capital LLP focuses on energy efficiency, on-site generation and clean energy projects.

General Atlantic takes stake in energy efficiency growth fund Sustainable Development Capital