Why It Matters: Dimming the Sky
Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Podcasts
Subjects: Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Gabrielle Sierra
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This podcast episode from the Council on Foreign Relations centers on the controversial topic of solar geoengineering as a means to slow global warming.
- Students will learn that solar geoengineering, or the process of using aerosolized chemicals in the atmosphere to reflect sunlight, poses a variety of potential dangers, including the risk of ozone depletion, increased air pollution, reduced crop yields, and changes in precipitation.
- The podcast episode also includes a thought-provoking discussion on the geopolitics of solar geoengineering.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- A transcript of the podcast episode is provided.
- The show notes offer a variety of linked articles and videos for students who want to learn more about the topics discussed in the episode.
Prerequisites
- Because the episode is long, students may benefit from listening to shorter segments.
- The first segment (0:00- 3:14) discusses the origins and problems of climate change.
- The second segment (3:15- 5:59) explains how solar geoengineering works
- The third segment (6:00- 12:15) presents the scientific risks of solar geoengineering.
- The fourth segment (12:16- 17:00) explores the geopolitical risks of solar geoengineering.
- The fifth segment (17:01-23:45) explains the concern that solar geoengineering could result in people ignoring the root problem of greenhouse gas emissions.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Social studies, government, and civics classes could use this resource to discuss the kinds of safeguards that would be necessary in order to safely implement solar geoengineering on a global scale.
- Earth science classes could examine the relationship between volcanic eruptions and cooler temperatures on earth.
- Ethics classes could debate whether the potential benefits of solar geoengineering outweigh the potential risks.
- Advanced students could listen to the podcast episode for homework in preparation for a class discussion the following day.
- Other resources on this topic include this video from Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell on geoengineering, this podcast episode about clouds and climate change, and this media literacy activity on geoengineering.
Solar geoengineering is one of the most controversial and cutting-edge areas of research in climate science today. This podcast episode from the Council on Foreign Relations does an excellent job at presenting accurate science while also talking about the potential dire risks associated with geoengineering. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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