TED Talks
How aerosols brighten clouds — and cool the planet
Here's a conundrum: the same aerosol pollutants that harm human health also help cool the climate, says atmospheric scientist Sarah J. Doherty. Is there a way to clean up the air without warming the planet? Exploring the unintended consequences of reducing air pollution, she makes the case for a better understanding of marine cloud brightening — or intentionally adding sea salt aerosols to clouds over the ocean, which could reflect sunlight back into space and potentially reduce global warming.
by Sarah J. Doherty
Emergency medicine for our climate fever
As we recklessly warm the planet by pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, some industrial emissions also produce particles that reflect sunshine back into space, putting a check on global warming that we're only starting to understand. Climate activist Kelly Wanser asks: Can we engineer ways to harness this effect and further reduce warming? Learn more about the promises and risks of "cloud brightening" -- and how it could help restore our climate to health.
by Kelly Wanser
The Spirit of TED: 1.5°C Gone Without Climate Intervention – So What's the Plan?
This talk, calling for a new paradigm in responding to climate change, was delivered by the remarkable 22-year-old Anni Pokela from Operaatio Arktis. It was written by her young colleague Anton Keskinen and presented at "ARCTIC MOMENTUM," an extraordinary gathering organized by the youth-led Operaatio Arktis. The event brought together scientists, policymakers, indigenous leaders, and youth leaders and focused on the urgency of protecting the Arctic and the need for research on an expanded set of responses, held in Helsinki, Finland.
by Anni Pokela