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Make Sunsets founders

Make Sunsets is a US-based startup founded in 2022 by Luke Iseman, aiming to combat climate change through solar geoengineering. The company’s approach involves launching weather balloons that release sulfur dioxide (SO₂) into the stratosphere, intending to reflect sunlight and cool the Earth—a process inspired by the natural cooling effects observed after volcanic eruptions. To fund these activities, Make Sunsets sells “cooling credits,” claiming that each gram of SO₂ offsets the warming effect of one ton of CO₂ for a year.

The startup has sparked significant controversy due to its unregulated and unilateral actions. In 2022, it conducted test launches in Mexico without governmental approval, leading to a national ban on solar geoengineering experiments to protect communities and the environment.

Potential Emergency Climate Tool: If global warming accelerates to dangerous levels and mitigation efforts fall short, solar geoengineering could serve as a temporary emergency measure. Make Sunsets contributes early real-world data and experimentation that could prove valuable in understanding the viability of such options in the future.

Critics argue that Make Sunsets bypassed essential scientific protocols, including public engagement and independent impact assessments, raising concerns about the ethical implications of manipulating the climate without comprehensive oversight.

Furthermore, the scientific community is divided on the efficacy and safety of solar geoengineering. Potential risks include unintended consequences such as altered weather patterns, ozone layer depletion, and acid rain. The temporary nature of SO₂’s cooling effect necessitates continuous injections, potentially leading to dependency. Many experts advocate for a moratorium on such interventions until more research is conducted and robust international governance frameworks are established.

Make Sunsets launched last in March. Here is a video from X.

Potential Emergency Climate Tool:

If global warming accelerates to dangerous levels and mitigation efforts fall short, solar geoengineering could serve as a temporary emergency measure. Make Sunsets contributes early real-world data and experimentation that could prove valuable in understanding the viability of such options in the future.

Despite the backlash, Iseman defends the company’s actions as a necessary response to the urgent climate crisis, aiming to provoke public discourse and accelerate research in the field.

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) isn’t happy about anyone making sunsets and has submitted a demand for information to a start-up company calling themselves “Make Sunsets,” which is launching balloons filled with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) seeking to geoengineer the planet and generate “cooling” credits to sell.

Make Sunsets founders

This issue was initially identified in 2023 during the last Administration, but no action was taken to find out more about this questionable start-up and activity.

“The idea that individuals, supported by venture capitalists, are putting criteria air pollutants into the air to sell ‘cooling’ credits shows how climate extremism has overtaken common sense,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin in a press statement. “Based on Make Sunsets’ responses to our information request, we will look into all our authorities to ensure that we continue maintaining clean air for all Americans.”

Make Sunsets is already banned in Mexico. Their website states they want to scale this activity significantly and have already conducted over 124 deployments. It is unclear where the balloons are launched and where the SO₂ is from. Furthermore, it is not known if the company has been in contact with any state, local or federal air agencies. Thus, EPA is submitting a demand for information to get answers and plans to take additional actions as necessary.

Individuals can make their own sunsets, by buying a kit for about $1835 through the company website:

Make Sunsets explains

We currently use biodegradable latex balloons filled with hydrogen gas and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) to create reflective clouds in the stratosphere. The amount of hydrogen gas is calculated based on the balloon size, payload weight, and the desired burst altitude. Our goal is to release the reflective cloud above 20 km (66,000 ft) in the stratosphere. A calculator helps ensure precise measurements.

After launch, the balloon expands as it rises, due to decreasing air pressure, and eventually bursts. If the payload bursts above 66,000 ft, we issue Cooling Credits. If telemetry does not confirm stratospheric deployment, we re-deploy as needed. Once the balloon bursts, a parachute deploys to gently return the payload to the ground. The payload includes instruments to recover the balloon and collect important data about the deployment. A typical flight lasts 3–5 hours. Here is a video of a balloon launch and deployment details.

Here’s what a balloon looks like when it deploys Cooling Credits in the stratosphere:

The EPA is not happy at all with the startup’s experiments and has issued the warning:

Under Section 114 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is authorized to require facilities to provide information about their operations. The agency is requesting a response within 30 days.

Sulfur dioxide has been regulated by EPA since 1971 as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) program. Sulfur dioxide can harm human health and the environment. Short-term exposures to SO₂ can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. People with pulmonary diseases, particularly children, are sensitive to the effects of SO₂. Additionally, SO₂ can react in the atmosphere leading to acid rain or form particles that harm health and impair visibility.

We have reached out to Make Climate for comment. They defend being climate outlaws.

They write: “Contrary to popular belief, Mexico hasn’t banned solar geoengineering. Florida *has* banned most big balloon launches. However, there’s an exception for “a person 6 years of age or younger.” Luke might have done a launch from Miami dressed as a giant baby; these lawmakers really should be more specific about their silly rules. Also, reminder because we get asked all the time: our balloons are fully biodegradable.

“In the future, some misguided politicians somewhere might ban solar geoengineering to pretend they’re doing something about the climate crisis. Until they also place a meaningful cap on carbon emissions, we will work around them. We will adapt as needed; the ocean is a big, largely unregulated place.”

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