Injecting particulates into the atmosphere isn’t a magical fix for the climate crisis

‘Artificially adding new radiatively active particles into the atmosphere will inevitably alter the dynamics of the global atmospheric circulation.’ Photograph: Iuliia Bycheva/Alamy

Planetary-scale solar geoengineering interventions involve the deliberate injection of either natural or artificial particulates into the stratosphere – stratospheric aerosol injection, or SAI – with a view to offset some of the global heating caused by greenhouse gases. If implemented, the technology would create a metaphorical thermostat for the planet. Such a thermostat is advocated on the grounds that controlling global temperature reduces the harms associated with the climate crisis.

I wish to challenge this assertion.