The Intelligence from The Economist Ice, ice, maybe: should the Arctic be refrozen?
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Feb 17, 2026 
Kira Huju, Asia correspondent covering India’s booming quick-commerce scene. Catherine Brahic, environment editor who probes Arctic geoengineering risks. Oliver Morton, senior editor and climate expert on refreezing proposals. They debate radical cooling methods, technical and governance challenges, and why tinkering with polar climate could be tempting and fraught.
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Clouds As Local Sunshades
- Marine cloud brightening sprays particles to make low clouds reflect more sunlight.
- Studies suggest it could reduce sea-ice loss and even help some recovery.
High-Altitude Haze For Cooling
- Stratospheric aerosol injection adds long-lived particles high in the atmosphere to cool the surface.
- Near the poles the stratosphere sits lower, making polar deployment easier than tropical injection.
Research Before Deployment
- Research must explore geoengineering effects deeply before any deployment decisions.
- Study governance, regional impacts and long-term consequences to inform rational choices.