Humans have found it difficult to leave fossil fuels, so some argue that we will soon have to begin geo -ngealry, that is, modify the atmosphere to avoid catastrophic warming of the planet.
The practice is controversial. Some argue that it is the only solution since we have expected too much to reduce carbon emissions. Others say that we should not execute two un controlled experiments in the Earth’s climate (the first is the global burning of fossil fuels).
That has not prevented people from trying. And a approach defended by Sunset He has caught the attention of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The startup is basically two types of silicon Valley that have been releasing meteorological balloons full of hydrogen gases and sulfur dioxide particles. When the balloon floats somewhere after 66,000 feet of altitude, explodes and releases the sulfur dioxide, which disperses and reflects sunlight, cooling the earth a bit.
The company sells “cooling credits” depending on how much estimated warming that denies each launch in globe. Make Sunsets has raised $ 750,000, according to Pitchbook, and the startup says that its investors include Boost VC, Draper Associates and Pioneer Fund.
None of the founders is scientific, but the science behind sulfur dioxide and sun reflectivity is solid. Humans accidentally tested The importance of sulfur dioxide in the global albedo, the average reflectivity of the land surface, when they cut the sulfur content of marine shipping fuels in 2020; An outstanding climate scientist has argued in favor of practice.
Even so, given the complexity of the global climate, it is not clear what other effects could have the practice. It could sow rain storms in a region while depriving other rainy areas. Several scientists have Caution.
In addition, if sulfur dioxide particles approach the ground, they could aggravate the asthma of people and cause other respiratory problems. Here, the EPA has problems with the Make Sunsets approach to geo -ngealism. Sulfur dioxide is regulated as an air pollutant. The EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, said this week that the agency is investigating the company.
Make Sunsets argues that his actions are legal. In a Frequent questions On its website, the company says: “Yes, our method for Cool Earth falls under the 1976 climate modification law and annually informs NOAA of our implementations as necessary.”
However, the law is confusing here. When it was written, the climate modification law was probably intended to cover the practice of planting clouds, in which particles such as silver iodide shoot in clouds to induce rain or snowfall. Most weather modifications today are made by entities such as Ski stations and Irrigation districts in the West. Is unclear How the law is applied to the modification of the weather.
Even so, although the EPA could be justified in its investigation, it is not exactly consistent with the Zeldin pollution approach.
The agency efforts to boost coal It is likely that it generates much more sulfur dioxide pollution than to make the sunsets release with their balloons. A sunset balloon November 15, 2024He released 1,715 grams of sulfur dioxide. In 2023, American electric power plants 650,000 tons In the atmosphere, the most of which came from coal. That is approximately the same amount as 343,900,000 of the Startup balloons.