<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening?</h2>

In 1991, a volcano in the PhilippinesA nation in the south-west Pacific made up of 7,641 different islands. sent 17 million tonnes of a gas called sulphur dioxide (SO2) into the air.

The gas turned into a mist that reflectedThrow back light, head or sound without taking it in. sunlight and cooled the Earth. Now, scientists want to copy this to slow down climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change..

It is called solarTo do with the sun. radiation management (SRM). Even billionaire Bill GatesFounder and former CEO of Microsoft, the company responsible for popularising household computers in the 80s (and still one of the major global tech companies). His house on the shores of Lake Washington is called Xanadu 2.0. It took seven years to build and is seen as an early example of a smart home. has spent money on the plan. Planes releasing particles high up into the air could change worldwide temperatures.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>

People who supportIn favour of. the plan say that other ways of tackling climate change are not working, or are too slow.

But others are worried. Some say that if people think we can use SRM to cool the Earth, they might start to use even more fossil fuelsFuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.. Others fear that SRM could accidentally cause extremeVery great, or beyond what is expected. weather.

Yes! SRM is like a "fire extinguisher". We should only use it in an emergency. We do not know exactly how it might change the weather on the Earth. We should try other ways to slow down climate change.

No! We need clever ways to stop climate change. The things we are doing now are too slow. We should try anything that could help.

Philippines - A nation in the south-west Pacific made up of 7,641 different islands.

Reflected - Throw back light, head or sound without taking it in.

Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.

Solar - To do with the sun.

Bill Gates - Founder and former CEO of Microsoft, the company responsible for popularising household computers in the 80s (and still one of the major global tech companies). His house on the shores of Lake Washington is called Xanadu 2.0. It took seven years to build and is seen as an early example of a smart home.

Support - In favour of.

Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.

Extreme - Very great, or beyond what is expected.