They War-Gamed Dimming the Sun. It Went Even Worse Than You Think

Solar geoengineering could buy humanity time against climate change--or trigger a dangerous new arms race. A first-of-its-kind simulation offered a glimpse of what happens when geopolitics takes the wheel. When it comes to deciding the fate of the planet, Colleen Golja always thought science and reason would have a seat at the table. That was until one morning last September in London, when the climate researcher took part in the first in a series of war games. The goal: to prevent an uncontrolled global race to develop a technology aimed at cooling the planet but that comes with vast, unknown risks that could reshape life on Earth. "I thought that would be such an easy thing. Like, we can all agree to do ethical research and make sure it's for the better of all humans," she told WIRED.