Archive · 21 Nov 2025
Solar Geoengineering: A Growing Industry with Unregulated Risks
Some people want to make it cooler on Earth by blocking the sun's rays, like how sunglasses work.
This is called solar geoengineering.
Many scientists think this might happen soon, but it's risky and could have bad side effects.
A company called Stardust wants to do this, but many scientists don't think it's safe.
They also worry that if we stop doing it, the Earth could get very hot very fast.
Some governments might need to make rules for this, but they haven't yet.
Solar geoengineering, a technique to mask climate change by blocking sunlight, is gaining traction.
A record-breaking funding round for companies in this field has raised concerns about unregulated risks.
Two-thirds of climate researchers polled believe large-scale deployment will occur by 2100, likely driven by private actors.
Elon Musk and other tech billionaires have shown interest in solar geoengineering.
Stardust, a US-Israeli startup, raised $60 million to pursue stratospheric aerosol injection, despite skepticism from scientists.
- Who
- Tech billionaires, companies like Stardust, and possibly rogue actors
- What
- Investing in and pursuing solar geoengineering
- When
- Currently, with potential large-scale deployment by 2100
- Where
- Worldwide, with funding and research happening in various countries
- Why
- To mitigate climate change by blocking sunlight
Proponents of Solar Geoengineering
Opponents and Skeptics
Potential to Cool Earth
Proponents of Solar Geoengineering
Could help mitigate climate change by blocking sunlight
Opponents and Skeptics
Only a temporary fix, not a cure for the climate crisis
Unregulated Industry
Proponents of Solar Geoengineering
Private companies are investing and pursuing research
Opponents and Skeptics
Lack of regulation raises concerns about risks and side effects
Rogue Actors
Proponents of Solar Geoengineering
Private companies or nations could deploy geoengineering unilaterally
Opponents and Skeptics
International governance is needed to prevent this
- Funding
- Over $185 million total, with $60 million raised by Stardust in 2023
- Techniques
- Stratospheric aerosol injection, space mirrors
- Potential Side Effects
- Acid rain, asthma attacks, ozone layer damage, uneven climate impacts, termination shock
- Regulation
- Lacking, with some states and countries banning experiments, and the UN putting a moratorium on geoengineering