Rain, Rain, Go Away: Geoengineering and the Illusion of Control

Author(s)/Creator(s)

• Hannibal Newsome

Document Type

Article

Date

10-1-2025

Keywords

Geoengineering; human control; ethical risks; ecological unintended consequences; governance; moral hazard.

Language

Eng

Disciplines

Geological Engineering

Description/Abstract

In this article, Newsom critiques geoengineering proposals by examining how they reflect a human impulse to exert control over nature; a control that may be illusory. The piece argues that while geoengineering is increasingly touted as a solution to climate change, it brings with it ethical, ecological, and political risks that are often underappreciated, including unintended side effects, issues of governance, and moral hazard. The author calls for more caution, rigorous oversight, and humility in considering geoengineering as part of climate policy.

Recommended Citation

Newsom, H. (2025). Rain, Rain, Go Away: Geoengineering and the Illusion of Control. The Plan Journal, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.15274/tpj.2025.10.01.5

Source

The Plan Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.