The American billionaire and owner of SpaceX, Elon Musk, proposed “blocking the sun” with satellites to reduce global warming, by sending a “large constellation of solar-powered satellites” into Earth’s orbit.
Musk explained, in a post on the “X” platform, that these satellites, supported by artificial intelligence, will work to make small adjustments to the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth, in order to reduce global warming.
Musk’s tweet was widely spread on the platform, and users’ opinions differed between supporters of the idea, those opposed to it, and those wondering about the possibility of implementing it.
But scientists have warned that implementing Musk’s idea could cause serious damage to the climate system and the lives of billions of people on Earth.
Lily Vohor, director of the Fossil Fuel Economy Program at the Center for International Environmental Law in Berlin, called the idea “speculative.”
She added to the Daily Mail newspaper, “Solar geoengineering is unpredictable, and this idea could destabilize our fragile climate system.”
She continued: “Any future application of geoengineering will threaten the lives and rights of billions of people.”
She highlighted: “If the idea is implemented one day, it will not be possible to stop it or suspend it without risking a sudden increase in temperature or doubling global warming.”
When Musk was asked how he could ensure that these satellites would follow accurate and fair adjustments to solar energy around the world, taking into account seasonal changes. “We will only need small adjustments to prevent global warming, or both global cooling,” he replied.
The American billionaire admitted that blocking a large amount of sunlight could lead to a sharp drop in temperatures and turn the Earth into an “ice ball.”
Musk did not explain the role that artificial intelligence will play in this mission, but it is likely to control the modifications of the beams that will allow it to reach Earth, according to the newspaper.
Although this idea seems impractical, Musk has already sent more than 8,000 satellites into Earth’s orbit as part of the Starlink constellation to provide high-speed internet to countries around the world.
The Daily Mail reported that Musk can easily cover the cost of this project, and he is currently the richest man in the world with a fortune approaching half a trillion dollars.
For her part, Professor Sami Buzzard, a glaciologist and climate scientist at Northumbria University, warned against Musk’s ideas.
“The decision to determine climate should not be in the hands of one person or one country,” she said.
She explained that reducing carbon emissions is the ideal and effective way to reduce global warming
