Efforts to engineer the Earth’s atmosphere through geoengineering technologies are gaining traction, driven by worsening climate change and insufficient reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Projects include direct air-capture plants, such as Occidental Petroleum’s in Texas and Climeworks’ in Iceland, which aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it underground. Other approaches involve infusing clouds with sulfur dioxide to block sunlight or stimulating phytoplankton blooms to absorb carbon dioxide in oceans.

Despite concerns about safety, efficacy, and potential distraction from emission reduction efforts, these projects are advancing rapidly, fueled by investment from oil and gas companies and government funding. However, questions remain about the ethical implications and international governance of geoengineering technologies, as they have the potential to impact the entire planet without established standards or regulations.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/01/briefing/climate-technology-carbon-capture.html