A Mysterious Startup Is Developing a New Form of Solar Geoengineering
2 min read
Summary
Start-up Stardust is researching and developing proprietary geoengineering technology in an attempt to halt global warming.
The company plans to distribute particles to create a cloud to reflect some of the sun’s rays and block them from reaching the Earth.
Such an approach could be highly damaging if it goes wrong and there are few rules and limited oversight for geoengineering.
The company is led by the former deputy chief scientist at the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission and has also drawn criticism from environmental groups for attempting to commercialise the technology.
Opinion is also divided within the scientific community over the effectiveness of geoengineering and its potential impact.
Some claim it is a dangerous distraction from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while others argue it is a necessary backup plan.
If temperatures continue to rise, governments or private entities may ultimately use geoengineering to alleviate extreme weather.
Stardust intends to develop and sell its technology to governments, and keep it secret from the general public.
Experts have called for increased transparency from the company.
A lack of transparency from private companies carrying out geoengineering could spark conspiracy theories and make it harder to trust them in the future.
