Time Left to Critical Climate Feedback/Loops: Annual Solar Geoengineering-PLUS, Pathways to Planetary Self-Cooling

Global warming (GW) contributions from feedbacks and feedback loops are projected to rise from ≈54% (loops: 29%) in 2024 to ≈71% (loops: 50%) under faltering RCP pathways without Solar Geoengineering (SG) by about 2100. A critical threshold, RCP_Critical, defined as the point at which feedback loops account for more than half of GW, is projected to occur between 2075 and 2125. Beyond this point, reversing warming becomes severely constrained, and climate tipping points become more likely. From these trends, an average mitigation difficulty and cost increase rate (MDCR) of ≈1.33–1.5% per year is estimated. By 2100, absent mitigation, the effort required to offset global warming would roughly double relative to today, approaching an unsustainable mitigation critical threshold. Current feedback levels may already be driving nonlinear warming behavior. These diagnostic estimates align with three key indicators: a minimum-feedback baseline from 1870, an equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) range of 3.1 °C–4.3 °C (potentially reached by ≈2082), and consistency with IPCC AR6 confidence bounds. In response, this study proposes Annual Solar Geoengineering-PLUS pathways (ASG+Ps) as supplemental measures. These include Earth Brightening, targeted Arctic Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), and feasible L1 Space Sunshade systems designed to reduce feedback amplification and extend mitigation timelines. The “PLUS” component refers to the use of increased mitigation levels with a focus on high-amplification regions, particularly the Arctic and the tropics, to help reverse local feedbacks and promote negative feedback loops. These moderate ASG+P pathways directly address AR6 concerns while avoiding many governance challenges of full-scale SG. ASG+Ps are less controversial and provide ≈14× stronger cooling potential per Wm−2 than Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), while allowing variable regional targeting. Meanwhile, RCP2.6 has already been missed, placing RCP4.5 and RCP6 at risk. In 2024, atmospheric CO2 rose by ≈23 Gt (≈3 ppm), while forest tree losses exceeded afforestation gains by 2×, yielding a 2 GtCO2 sink loss, further diminishing CDR’s effectiveness. Declines in planetary albedo since 1998 continue to amplify warming. Urbanization accounts for roughly 13% of total surface GW, affecting 60% of the population, underscoring the mitigation potential of urban Earth Brightening. New results here also show major Space Sunshading area reductions, at ≈32× less than prior flawed estimates (detailed here) and ≈1600× less under the ASG+P method, substantially improving feasibility and the importance of space agencies’ needed mitigation role. A coordinated global ASG+P strategy, supported by IPCC working groups and space agencies like NASA/SpaceX, are needed to provide a critical supplemental pathway for climate stabilization. Given the shrinking intervention window, rising MDCR, and the escalating risks to civilization, prioritizing timely work in this area is essential; the investment is minor compared to the trillions in climate financial damages that could be avoided.