Sun-dimming risks putting the planet’s thermostat under Donald Trump’s control. Better to adopt the precautionary principle with high-stakes science

It is fitting that this week’s UN environment talks are in Nairobi, with Africa shaping the global climate conversation. The continent’s diplomats are dealing with the vexed question of whether it is wise to try to cool the planet by dimming the sun’s rays. While not on the formal summit agenda, on the sidelines they are arguing that it’s time to stop promoting solar geoengineering technology as a solution to global heating. It’s hard to disagree.

African nations have acted because they don’t want their continent to become a test bed for unproven schemes to spray particles into the high atmosphere to reflect sunlight away from Earth for a small, uncertain cooling gain. They point to environmental, ethical and geopolitical risks . That’s why the continent is pushing for a global “ non-use ” agreement that would rule out public funding, outdoor experiments, patenting and official promotion of these technologies.

Continue reading...

Sun-dimming risks putting the planet’s thermostat under Donald Trump’s control. Better to adopt the precautionary principle with high-stakes science

It is fitting that this week’s UN environment talks are in Nairobi, with Africa shaping the global climate conversation. The continent’s diplomats are dealing with the vexed question of whether it is wise to try to cool the planet by dimming the sun’s rays. While not on the formal summit agenda, on the sidelines they are arguing that it’s time to stop promoting solar geoengineering technology as a solution to global heating. It’s hard to disagree.

African nations have acted because they don’t want their continent to become a test bed for unproven schemes to spray particles into the high atmosphere to reflect sunlight away from Earth for a small, uncertain cooling gain. They point to environmental, ethical and geopolitical risks . That’s why the continent is pushing for a global “ non-use ” agreement that would rule out public funding, outdoor experiments, patenting and official promotion of these technologies.

Continue reading...

Sun-dimming risks putting the planet’s thermostat under Donald Trump’s control. Better to adopt the precautionary principle with high-stakes science

It is fitting that this week’s UN environment talks are in Nairobi, with Africa shaping the global climate conversation. The continent’s diplomats are dealing with the vexed question of whether it is wise to try to cool the planet by dimming the sun’s rays. While not on the formal summit agenda, on the sidelines they are arguing that it’s time to stop promoting solar geoengineering technology as a solution to global heating. It’s hard to disagree.

African nations have acted because they don’t want their continent to become a test bed for unproven schemes to spray particles into the high atmosphere to reflect sunlight away from Earth for a small, uncertain cooling gain. They point to environmental, ethical and geopolitical risks . That’s why the continent is pushing for a global “ non-use ” agreement that would rule out public funding, outdoor experiments, patenting and official promotion of these technologies.

Continue reading...

• Draw to be made at 6.40pm GMT at St James Park

• FA Cup roundup: Weston-super-Mare into third round

• Email Will with any thoughts, hopes or dreams

Fabio Borini scored on Friday night in Salford’s 4-0 win over Leyton Orient, which means I can shoehorn this interview I did with him earlier this season.

Who will Macclesfield fancy? One of the big Manchester clubs? They did get to play against City back in the 1998-99 season in the old Second Division. Shaun Goater scored the winner at Moss Rose that season.

Continue reading...

• Draw to be made at 6.40pm GMT at St James Park

• FA Cup roundup: Weston-super-Mare into third round

• Email Will with any thoughts, hopes or dreams

Fabio Borini scored on Friday night in Salford’s 4-0 win over Leyton Orient, which means I can shoehorn this interview I did with him earlier this season.

Who will Macclesfield fancy? One of the big Manchester clubs? They did get to play against City back in the 1998-99 season in the old Second Division. Shaun Goater scored the winner at Moss Rose that season.

Continue reading...

• Draw to be made at 6.40pm GMT at St James Park

• FA Cup roundup: Weston-super-Mare into third round

• Email Will with any thoughts, hopes or dreams

Fabio Borini scored on Friday night in Salford’s 4-0 win over Leyton Orient, which means I can shoehorn this interview I did with him earlier this season.

Who will Macclesfield fancy? One of the big Manchester clubs? They did get to play against City back in the 1998-99 season in the old Second Division. Shaun Goater scored the winner at Moss Rose that season.

Continue reading...

Donald Trump has loomed large over Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with European leaders, after the US president took aim at the Ukrainian leader once again. It comes in the wake of a new White House national security strategy that has caused fear in Europe, but drawn praise from the Kremlin. Lucy Hough speaks to our Europe correspondent Jon Henley.

Continue reading...

Donald Trump has loomed large over Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with European leaders, after the US president took aim at the Ukrainian leader once again. It comes in the wake of a new White House national security strategy that has caused fear in Europe, but drawn praise from the Kremlin. Lucy Hough speaks to our Europe correspondent Jon Henley.

Continue reading...

Donald Trump has loomed large over Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with European leaders, after the US president took aim at the Ukrainian leader once again. It comes in the wake of a new White House national security strategy that has caused fear in Europe, but drawn praise from the Kremlin. Lucy Hough speaks to our Europe correspondent Jon Henley.

Continue reading...