Technology mogul Elon Musk has unveiled a controversial new proposal to combat global warming, suggesting a vast constellation of AI-controlled satellites could block sunlight from reaching Earth.
Musk revealed what he called his “master plan” on X, formerly Twitter, outlining a system of solar-powered satellites that would “slightly adjust the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth.”
He argued that “small adjustments” would be sufficient to prevent global warming or cooling, referencing Earth’s past as a “snowball.”
The concept of reducing global warming by blocking sunlight is known as solar geoengineering, or solar radiation modification, and has been a subject of scientific debate for years.
While considered theoretically possible, scientists widely view such interventions as extremely risky. Earth’s climate is a complex system, and any interference could lead to unpredictable and irreversible consequences.
Musk’s satellite-based approach differs significantly from other geoengineering proposals currently under consideration. These include Marine Cloud Brightening, which involves injecting aerosols into marine clouds to increase their reflectivity, and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection, which releases chemical particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect solar radiation.
SpaceX, founded by Musk, already operates nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. These satellites, unrelated to his climate proposal, have drawn criticism for interfering with astronomical observations.
When a follower questioned how the proposed satellites could make precise adjustments without destabilizing the global climate, Musk responded simply, “Yes.”
Musk further connected his ambitious plan to the concept of a Type II civilization on the Kardashev scale, which is capable of harnessing all the energy from its star. He acknowledged that humanity is “millennia” away from achieving such a civilization.
His proposal highlights a growing trend among some to seek radical technological solutions to the escalating global climate crisis.