In the quiet expanse of Siskiyou County, the sky often feels like a battlefield. Jet lines crisscross the heavens, lingering longer than memory suggests they should, sparking whispers of chemtrails and global dimming. To some, these are contrails—simple vapor trails from high-flying aircraft. To others, they hint at something more: a deliberate act, perhaps stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), a geoengineering method to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight with particles sprayed into the stratosphere. Whatever the truth, one thing is clear—there’s no global referee watching the game.

SAI, a concept rooted in mimicking volcanic eruptions, has gained traction among scientists as a potential emergency brake for climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes it’s the most-researched solar geoengineering method, capable of rapid cooling. Yet, no international body governs its use. No treaties mandate transparency. No oversight ensures that if someone—be it a government, a corporation, or a rogue startup—decides to seed the skies, the world would even know. In the U.S., small-scale experiments have popped up, like Make Sunsets’ balloon releases in 2022, only halted after Mexico cried foul. But globally, the stratosphere remains a Wild West.

The chemtrail debate fuels the fire. Skeptics see conspiracy, pointing to condensation trails as benign. Believers see patterns—jet lines too persistent, skies too hazy—echoing fears of secret spraying. Global dimming, the measurable dip in sunlight from pollution or aerosols, blurs the line further. Was the 4-5% drop per decade from the 1950s to 1980s just industrial fallout, or something orchestrated? In Siskiyou, where the sky’s scars are daily art, the question lingers: who’s accountable?

Without governance, SAI could alter weather, disrupt ecosystems, or deepen distrust—all unchecked. The atmosphere, our shared shield, hangs in the balance. As jets streak above, we’re left to wonder: is this progress, or a gamble with no referee?

Research paper below: Source Linkedin

Janos Pasztor
Former Executive Director of the former Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G)

my work as an independent consultant to Stardust Solutions, a USA/Israeli startup, to provide views and recommendations on the governance implications of their work on stratospheric aerosol injection. As promised, my report (attached below) would be made public.

Beyond Stardust, I hope that the ideas in this report will be of use for other startups, whether for- or non-profit, but also for relevant state and non-state actors.

In some ways, this is uncharted territory.  But I do believe the report addresses some key issues. I also hope that by making this available publicly, it will encourage different actors to reflect on these, and to come up with their ideas on what the governance implications are, and what can be done about them.