Human beings have actually discovered it difficult to give up fossil fuels, which is why some argue that well soon need to start geoengineering that is, modifying the environment to prevent devastating warming of the planet.The practice is questionable.
Some argue its the only option considered that weve waited too long to reduce carbon emissions.
Others say we shouldnt be running two unrestrained experiments on the Earths climate (the first being the international burning of fossil fuels).
That hasnt stopped individuals from attempting.
And one technique championed by Make Sunsets has drawn the attention of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.The start-up is generally two guys from Silicon Valley who have been launching weather balloons filled with hydrogen gas and sulfur dioxide particles.
When the balloon floats someplace past 66,000 feet in altitude, it bursts and launches the sulfur dioxide particles, which scatter and show sunshine, cooling the Earth a small bit.The business sells cooling credits based on just how much estimated warming each balloon release negates.
Make Sunsets has raised $750,000, according to PitchBook, and the start-up says its investors include Boost VC, Draper Associates, and Pioneer Fund.Neither founder is a researcher, however the science behind sulfur dioxide and solar reflectivity is sound.
Humans accidentally showed the importance of sulfur dioxide in global albedo the typical reflectivity of the Earths surface area when they slashed the sulfur content of marine shipping fuels in 2020; one prominent climate researcher has actually argued in favor of the practice.Still, given the intricacy of the international climate, its unclear what other results the practice might have.
It might seed rainstorms in one region while depriving other areas of rain.
A number of researchers have advised caution.Plus, if sulfur dioxide particles wander closer to ground, they could worsen peoples asthma and cause other respiratory issues.
Here, the EPA disagrees with Make Sunsets approach to geoengineering.
Sulfur dioxide is regulated as an air contaminant.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated this week that the firm is investigating the company.Make Sunsets argues its actions are legal.
In an FAQ on its site, the company states, Yes, our method to cool Earth falls under the Weather Modification Act of 1976 and report annual to NOAA of our releases as required.The law is fuzzy here, though.
When it was written, the Weather Modification Act was most likely intended to cover the practice of cloud seeding, in which particles like silver iodide are shot into clouds to cause rain or snowfall.
Many weather condition adjustment today is done by entities like ski resorts and irrigation districts in the West.
Its not clear how the law uses to environment modification.Still, while the EPA might be justified in its examination, it isnt exactly consistent with Zeldins approach to pollution.The agencys efforts to enhance coal are likely to create far more sulfur dioxide contamination than Make Sunsets will release with its balloons.
A Make Sunsets balloon released on November 15, 2024, released 1,715 grams of sulfur dioxide.
In 2023, United States power plants released 650,000 tons into the environment, the majority of which came from coal.
Thats roughly the same amount as 343,900,000 of the start-ups balloons.