Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has put millions of dollars into research on solar geoengineering, a set of ideas for cooling the planet by blocking part of the sunlight that reaches Earth.
This comes over a month after Gates’ expressed interest in entering Pakistan’s agriculture for dedicated projects. Locals strongly rejected the billionaire’s announcement.
The most discussed method would release tiny reflective particles high in the atmosphere.
These particles would bounce some sunlight back into space, which could bring global temperatures down. The effect is similar to what happens after a large volcanic eruption.
How the Research Is Funded
Gates is one of the backers of Harvard University’s Solar Geoengineering Research Program, set up in 2017. Other funders include the Hewlett Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Much of Gates’ funding in this area has not been publicly disclosed.
The program supported a small outdoor experiment called SCoPEx, which planned to release a small amount of particles from a high-altitude balloon to study how they behave.
Harvard ended the experiment in March 2024 after delays and public criticism. Research under the wider program continues.
Gates Says Research, Not Deployment
Gates has drawn a line between studying the technology and using it. In an interview with Axios, he said he would support deploying it only if the world hit dangerous climate tipping points.
“No way am I pushing the world in that direction,” he said, adding that knowledge about the technology could be “quite valuable.”
He also named two concerns. Relying on it could slow efforts to cut fossil fuel use, and scientists still don’t fully understand how the particles could affect rainfall or cause droughts in some regions.
Why It Is Controversial
Scientists and researchers warn that trying to dim the sun could damage the ozone layer, increase air pollution, and shift weather patterns across borders. Only a few outdoor tests have been carried out so far.
Gates has also been active in Pakistan, where he has backed projects in agriculture and donated to flood relief. Pakistanis have strongly disapproved his involvement in the country so far.
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