{"id":3252,"date":"2026-03-29T13:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T11:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/?p=3252"},"modified":"2026-03-29T13:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T11:38:29","slug":"solar-radiation-management-to-begin-in-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/en\/2026\/03\/29\/solar-radiation-management-to-begin-in-april\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar radiation management to begin in April"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are experiments in the stratosphere really set to begin in April!?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newspapers and radio reports are informing us of plans to begin \u2018solar radiation management\u2019. This is a method whereby particles are released into the atmosphere to reflect the sun\u2019s rays. According to scientists, there are many serious caveats attached to this. Nevertheless, an Israeli-American, partly commercial, \u2018start-up\u2019 appears to be launching this initiative. This is particularly worrying news.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do SRM and SAL mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is a collective term for \u2018geoengineering\u2019 methods designed to influence the Earth\u2019s climate, specifically to lower temperatures by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface. This could potentially be achieved by increasing the reflection of sunlight. The two best-known methods are increasing the reflectivity of clouds and that of the stratosphere. This article focuses on the latter method. This method is known as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) and involves increasing the amount of reflective stratospheric aerosols, either through direct injection or by injecting a \u2018precursor\u2019 (such as sulphur dioxide, SO\u2082) which then reacts in the stratosphere to form aerosols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Five methods of solar radiation management. 1) Increasing surface albedo. 2) Increasing the reflectivity of clouds over the sea. 3) Increasing the amount of aerosols in the stratosphere. 4) Methods utilising space technology; for example, mirrors that reflect solar radiation. 5) Reducing high-altitude cirrus clouds. Source: NOAA.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, we cannot emphasise this enough: any form of geoengineering will always have to be accompanied by a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, as these are merely temporary and potentially risky solutions, the outcome of which is uncertain due to a lack of reliable models. Long-term climate protection requires a significant reduction in the burning of fossil fuels and, consequently, a reduction in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who wants to do this?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An Israeli-American start-up, \u2018Stardust\u2019 2<\/a><\/sup>, has raised $60 million. Stardust has announced that it will begin external experiments in April 2026. They say they will be able to start actually implementing SAL within 10 years. Stardust, based in Israel, was founded in 2023 by three prominent researchers: Yanai Yedvab, affiliated with the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission; Eli Waxman, a particle physicist and astrophysicist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel; and nuclear physicist Amyad Spector, formerly of the Negev Nuclear Research Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amount they have raised is enormous. It is worrying that investors are involved in a planned intervention in the stratosphere that will have global effects. According to Politico, the investors range from Silicon Valley venture capitalists to the largest shareholder of the luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari and the Italian football club Juventus! 3<\/a><\/sup> An earlier $15 million funding round involved the controversial Israeli-Canadian venture capital firm AWZ, which is accused of profiting from the genocide in Gaza and is linked to the Directorate of Defence Research and Development of the Israeli Ministry of Defence. 4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which particles and how do they enter the stratosphere?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The aerosol particles that can be used and are being researched are sulphate, calcium carbonate and diamond dust, and sulphur dioxide, which reacts in the stratosphere to form sulphate. Sulphur dioxide is an obvious choice because it has been proven to be effective. It entered the stratosphere in immense quantities when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991. As sulphate in the stratosphere, this caused a drop in the global average surface temperature of 0.5\u00b0C. However, sulphate is a corrosive substance; it causes acid rain and damages the ozone layer. Following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the ozone hole over Antarctica was larger than before. There have also been major storms linked to the impact of Mount Pinatubo on the stratosphere. 5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stardust claims to be developing artificial particles. Which ones is unknown; a publication has been announced but has not yet been submitted. The disadvantages of artificial particles include high production costs; after all, enormous quantities are required. Furthermore, the long-term consequences of releasing non-natural substances into the atmosphere are unknown. To its detriment, humanity is all too familiar with numerous examples of this, such as microplastics, PFAS, DDT, PCBs, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The particles would need to be dispersed at an altitude of 11\u201348 km, higher than the normal altitude for aircraft. Depending on the type of particles, problems with dispersion may also arise. Particles may clump together; a solution could be slow injection. In addition to the unusual altitude, this also places demands on the aircraft to be used and results in high fuel consumption (!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does \u2018science\u2019 make of this?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research into the consequences, viability and effectiveness of SAL is ongoing. Weather patterns will change, and the implications will not be the same everywhere. Account must be taken of physico-chemical interactions that affect weather systems such as the El Ni\u00f1o Southern Oscillation. There are gaps in our knowledge and there are risks of unintended effects (NOAA). In fact, cloud formation and aerosols are the main problems with climate models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerosols disappear from the atmosphere naturally, within a few days from the troposphere and after several years from the stratosphere. The injections will need to be repeated. If the injection of aerosols is not continued, this could trigger shock reactions due to rapid climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further research is absolutely essential. In short, it is a risky plan to tamper with the stratosphere, all the more so as this involves unknown, unnatural particles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethical, legal and social issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SAL affects the entire planet. Everyone will have to live with the consequences, both humanity and the Earth\u2019s ecosystem. Climate scientist Herman Russchenberg (Delft University of Technology)  6<\/a><\/sup> considers Stardust\u2019s plans to be very technology-driven, and in his view, insufficient thought has been given to the consequences. There is no understanding of the long-term implications. He believes that governments need to be more proactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solar geoengineering contravenes a wide range of human rights obligations, including the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the right to life, the rights of future generations and the collective and inherent rights of indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change entails geopolitical risks. The implementation of SRM may have a positive impact on some locations and a negative one on others. This unequal distribution of benefits and negative consequences may give rise to significant equity and geopolitical concerns. At present, there are no laws or regulations anywhere to oversee SRM research or implementation. There is a significant knowledge gap and uncertainties in many critical areas of SRM research, particularly in relation to the social sciences. This has led to a publication that provides an ethical framework for research into geoengineering methods to combat climate change (climate change intervention research) 7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This publication emphasises that the research:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. must be conducted responsibly, with the starting point being that a geoengineering method is not a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. must be conducted with integrity, respect and fairness towards people and nature, and indigenous peoples,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. must be open to public participation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. must be transparent, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. must comply with national and international laws and regulations. Risks must be assessed and submitted to independent bodies. All stakeholders must be kept informed at every stage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    \u00a0Stardust is neither transparent nor independent, and it does not comply with the relevant laws and regulations. The announcement that work will begin in April 2026 appears to contradict the principle of public participation. It is impossible to verify how ethical and responsible the research is. Furthermore, the stakeholders are profit-driven.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n

    1. https:\/\/klimaatwiki.org\/index.php\/Wondermiddelen#Zonnestralingsbeheer_(Solar_Radiation_Modification) https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/solar-radiation-modification-noaa-state-science-factsheet[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li>
    2. https:\/\/www.stardustsolutions.com\/[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li>
    3. https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/10\/24\/global-cooling-startup-raises-60-million-dollars-to-test-sun-reflecting-technology-00620340[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li>
    4. https:\/\/www.ciel.org\/news\/us-israeli-start-up-announces-reckless-solar-geoengineering-experiments-from-april-2026\/[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li>
    5. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1991_eruption_of_Mount_Pinatubo[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li>
    6. BNR Radio and NRC[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li>
    7. https:\/\/agu.mediavalet.com\/portals\/ethicalframework[↩<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Are experiments in the stratosphere really set to begin in April!? Newspapers and radio reports are informing us of plans to begin \u2018solar radiation management\u2019. This is a method whereby particles are released into the atmosphere to reflect the sun\u2019s rays. According to scientists, there are many serious caveats attached to this. Nevertheless, an Israeli-American, … Lees verder<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3237,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":true,"iawp_total_views":64,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3252"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3260,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252\/revisions\/3260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scientistrebellion.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}