Scientists criticise handling of pilot project to 'geoengineer' climate

The project attracted a forceful protest campaign from NGOs such as Friends of the Earth and ETC group. A petition signed by more than 50 organizations was handed in the same day as the decision to pause the project was announced by the EPSRC. They objected to the project in part because they feared that a "plan B" approach of engineering the climate will offer politicians an excuse for not taking tough decisions on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fules such as oil, coal and gas.