Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has allocated millions of dollars toward solar geoengineering research, a set of concepts aimed at cooling the planet by blocking a portion of sunlight reaching Earth.
The move follows more than a month after Gates expressed interest in Pakistan's agriculture sector, a proposal that faced strong local rejection.
The most debated approach involves releasing minute reflective particles high in the atmosphere, which would reflect some sunlight back into space and could lower global temperatures, similar to the cooling effect after a large volcanic eruption.
How the Research Is Funded
Gates backs Harvard University's Solar Geoengineering Research Program, established in 2017, alongside other supporters such as the Hewlett Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Much of Gates's contributions in this field remain undisclosed.
The program financed a modest outdoor trial named SCoPEx, which intended to drop a limited quantity of particles from a high-altitude balloon to observe their behavior.
Harvard halted the experiment in March 2024 after delays and public criticism, though broader research under the program continues.
Gates Says Research, Not Deployment
Gates distinguishes between studying the technology and actually using it. In an Axios interview, he said he would only back deployment if the world reached 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 highlighted two worries: reliance on geoengineering could slow fossil-fuel reduction efforts, and scientists still lack full understanding of how particles might affect rainfall or cause droughts in certain regions.
Why It Is Controversial
Researchers warn that attempting to dim the sun might harm the ozone layer, increase air pollution, and alter weather patterns across borders, with only a few outdoor tests conducted so far.
Gates has also been active in Pakistan, supporting agricultural projects and donating to flood relief, but Pakistanis have strongly disapproved his involvement to date.
