Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has put millions of dollars into research exploring whether reflecting some sunlight into space could cool the Earth. But one project associated with that work, SCoPEx, was discontinued in March 2024 after delays and public criticism.
How the proposed cooling method would work
Solar geoengineering would involve dispersing tiny, reflective particles high in the atmosphere to redirect a portion of incoming sunlight. The intended result is a cooling effect resembling that observed after major volcanic eruptions.
Gates has backed research connected to Harvard University’s Solar Geoengineering Research Program, which began in 2017. Although SCoPEx has ended, research into the broader approach is continuing.
Research support is not a push for deployment
Gates has drawn a distinction between investigating the technology and putting it into use. He has said his support for research does not mean he is urging the world to deploy it.
Why the approach remains disputed
The possibility of lower global temperatures comes alongside concerns about changes to weather. Scientists have warned that solar geoengineering could have consequences extending across national borders, including:
- Disruption to rainfall.
- More severe droughts.
- Changes in weather patterns across borders.
