Scientists warn of risks as private money enters geoengineer

"The planet is heating up faster than expected. Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise at record rates, leaving the world off track to limit warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The latest data shows 2025 was the third hottest year on record. That growing gap between climate targets and reality is fueling renewed interest in geoengineering interventions that intentionally alter the Earth's climate system."

"Until recently, most solar geoengineering research was carried out by nonprofits and public research institutions, funded by governments and philanthropies. But that landscape is shifting. Over the past three years, two commercial startups Israeli-US Stardust Solutions and California-based Make Sunsets have emerged. As reported by media outlet Heatmap News, Stardust Solutions recently announced it had raised $60 million (around 52 million) in venture capital."

Global heating is accelerating and greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise at record rates, leaving warming above pre-industrial levels off track to stay below 2°C. 2025 registered as the third hottest year on record. The widening gap between climate targets and reality is driving renewed interest in geoengineering interventions that intentionally alter the Earth's climate system. Solar geoengineering seeks to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back into space, but remains largely experimental and could cause far-reaching social, political, and environmental impacts if deployed at scale. Historically, most research was funded by governments, philanthropies, and nonprofits, but commercial startups have recently entered the field, raising substantial venture capital and prompting concerns about unaccountable private funding in an underregulated area.

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