A leading scientist investigating geo-engineering solutions to climate change has admitted he is “terrified” of his own technology. But Matthew Watson believes that if nothing can be done to turn the tide of global warming, the human race may be forced to risk interfering with nature on a planetary scale.

Watson, principal investigator for the Spice project which is looking at ways of simulating the cooling effects of volcanoes, said: “Personally, this stuff terrifies me. I’m easily terrified. I think if we ever deploy SRM (Solar Radiation Management) it will be the closest indication yet that we’ve failed as planetary stewards.

“I believe that. It’s a watershed for our relationship with the earth and with nature. It fundamentally changes the way seven billion people are going to interact with the world, and I’m not sure the system is going to be controllable in the way we want.”

If nothing can be done to turn the tide of global warming, the human race may be forced to risk interfering with nature on a planetary scale

SRM envisages using water droplets or sulphur particles to reduce the amount of radiation from the sun reaching the earth, mimicking what happens after major volcanic eruptions.

An early Spice experiment, one of the first to move geoengineering technology out of the laboratory, was cancelled in May amid controversy over alleged conflicts of interest.

The trial would have used a weather balloon to inject 150 litres of piped water into the atmosphere.

Scientists are still in the process of uncovering the potential hazards of geoengineering to counteract climate change.

One of the biggest risks is disrupting the delicate balance of land and sea weather influences, resulting in drought and extreme rainfall in different parts of the world. Another danger specifically linked to sulphur particles is the destruction of atmospheric ozone, a vital barrier to harmful solar radiation that can trigger skin cancer and have damaging effects on plants and animals.