Make Sunsets' Geo-engineering Efforts Gain Visibility with Ramez Naam's Endorsement

Make Sunsets, a U.S.-based company focused on commercial stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), has recently garnered attention following a social media post from author and technologist Ramez Naam. Naam's tweet, stating, "> Doing a little geo-engineering in the morning with @MakeSunsets," highlighted the company's ongoing efforts to cool the planet by releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. This public acknowledgment brings further visibility to the controversial field of solar geoengineering.Make Sunsets, founded in 2022 by Luke Iseman and Andrew Song, aims to mitigate global warming by mimicking the cooling effect of large volcanic eruptions, such as Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The company launches high-altitude balloons filled with sulfur dioxide, which forms reflective aerosols in the stratosphere. Make Sunsets sells "cooling credits" to consumers, claiming each gram of sulfur dioxide offsets the warming from approximately one tonne of carbon dioxide for a year.The company's activities have sparked considerable debate among scientists and policymakers. While proponents like Iseman argue for urgent action on climate change, critics raise concerns about the unregulated nature of such experiments, potential environmental risks, and the "moral hazard" of diverting focus from emissions reductions. Experts like Shuchi Talati, executive director of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering, emphasize the need for comprehensive research into long-term impacts on weather patterns, public health, and biodiversity.Funding for Make Sunsets includes investments from Boost VC, Draper Associates, and Pioneer Fund. Despite the company's assertion that its launches are safe and legal, the lack of clear international and national regulations for solar geoengineering remains a significant point of contention. The Mexican government, for instance, has banned solar geoengineering activities within its territory following Make Sunsets' past experiments there.The broader scientific community remains divided on the deployment of SAI. While some, like Professor David Keith, acknowledge the scientific basis for cooling, they stress the need for rigorous research and express reservations about private companies undertaking such ventures without extensive scientific oversight. Critics also warn of "termination shock," a rapid temperature increase if SAI efforts were suddenly halted, potentially causing catastrophic environmental and societal disruptions.