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Bill Gates' controversial plan aims to block some sunlight to curb global warming – Understand the risks and costs
In recent years, we have witnessed the intensification of efforts to combat global warming, but traditional solutions – such as reducing carbon emissions – are being seen by some as insufficient in the face of the emergency climatic. At the heart of the latest controversy is solar geoengineering, a climate manipulation concept that aims to artificially cool the planet.
Silicon Valley technology companies and entrepreneurs, such as the startup Make Sunsets, are taking bold steps to implement these techniques, but the risks involved are as great as the promises. After all, is solar geoengineering the ultimate solution to global warming, or are we playing with forces that could bring unpredictable and devastating consequences?
What is solar geoengineering?
Solar geoengineering is a field of research that aims to manipulate the planet's climate by reflecting solar radiation back into space, with the aim of reducing global temperatures. The best-known and most debated technique is “stratospheric aerosol injection” (SAI), where particles, such as sulfate, are released into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.
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This approach is inspired by the effects of large volcanic eruptions, such as that of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, which caused a temporary cooling of the Earth.
But what was once a scientific theory has now become a testing ground for venture-backed startups. Companies like Make Sunsets, backed by tech luminaries like Microsoft founder Bill Gates and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, are already launching aerosol balloons in Mexico.
The idea is to sell “cooling credits” to companies that want to offset their carbon emissions, offering them a quick and innovative solution to combat global warming. But is this innovation safe? Experts are divided.
The dangers and uncertainties
Critics of solar geoengineering point to the catastrophic and unpredictable harmful consequences of such techniques. Researchers from various fields warn that climate manipulation can result in regional droughts, crop failures and even changes in atmospheric currents that affect the climate globally.
Adrian Hindes, researcher at Australian National University, explains that Make Sunsets' efforts, for example, are far from reaching a scale capable of significantly impacting the global climate.
Still, he did not rule out the possibility that in the future, experiments like these could cause local changes in the climate that affect farming and the availability of water.
Another critic is Dr. Shuchi Talati of American University, who sees Make Sunsets' business model as a “speculative form of 'junk credit''”. According to him, selling cooling credits may not have the desired practical effect, in addition to fostering a false sense of security for companies that buy these credits.
For Talati and others, the implementation of geoengineering techniques should be highly controlled and regulated, with strong international governance. But with private companies leading the charge, that seems far from happening.
Real experiences and past lessons
To better understand the potential impact of solar geoengineering, it’s worth looking at past experiments and real-world examples. In 2021, a Bill Gates-backed project attempted to launch a balloon loaded with chalk powder into the stratosphere from the Swedish city of Kiruna. The idea was to test the scattering of particles to reflect sunlight.
However, after years of criticism and ethical concerns, Harvard University shut down the project. While there was academic interest, it was clear that the public and authorities were not ready to accept such experiments, especially without a full understanding of their risks.
The bet of the technological elites
It’s no surprise that Silicon Valley figures are investing in solar geoengineering. The technology appeals to those who believe in the power of innovation and markets to solve global problems. But this simplistic approach can fail to address the complexity of ecosystems and the impact on local communities and vulnerable countries.
For example, Mexico’s Ministry of the Environment has harshly criticized Make Sunsets for conducting experiments without the Mexican government’s authorization. This type of behavior raises questions about the ethics and responsibility of tech companies when dealing with global issues.
Final Thoughts: Is Solar Geoengineering a Solution?
As global warming continues, it’s understandable that new solutions are being explored, but how committed are we to accepting the risks of solar geoengineering? Experts like Dr. David Kitchen warn that these techniques are only stopgap solutions, designed to temporarily mitigate the symptoms of climate change, but not its causes.
He argues that geoengineering-based solutions reflect our failure to address the real issue: the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a sustainable economy.
Ultimately, solar geoengineering does not solve fundamental problems such as ocean acidification, which threatens marine ecosystems. As Harvard University chemist Frank Keutsch has pointed out, these necessary technologies are seen as a last resort to avoid catastrophic warming scenarios, not as a permanent solution.
Professor Stuart Haszeldine has compared geoengineering to an addictive drug: once you start, you can’t stop. This metaphor captures the essence of the uncertainty and dependency we feel when we try to manipulate the planet’s climate.
