Marjorie Taylor Greene pushes for ban on weather modification

In July 2023, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the Clear Skies Act, aimed at banning weather modification and geoengineering in the U.S. This proposal was followed by a congressional hearing titled 'Playing God with the Weather -- a Disastrous Forecast.’ During this nearly two-hour hearing convened by the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, lawmakers discussed the federal government’s role in weather modification, addressing both the scientific underpinnings of practices like cloud seeding and the ethical dilemmas that arise from manipulating weather patterns. The hearing highlighted a range of topics related to weather modification, including solar radiation modification and cloud seeding, which have been practiced for decades. However, the congressional discussion also featured unverified claims and conspiracy theories regarding the motivations of those advocating for geoengineering. Various statements during the hearing suggested that some proponents of geoengineering wished to control Earth's climate to combat what they termed a 'fake climate change hoax.' This claim was fact-checked and debunked by the ABC News weather, climate, and science unit, which pointed out that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's reports are based on extensive and credible scientific research. Despite the claims surrounding weather modification, Congress has seen no substantial effort to implement global climate modification technologies. Researchers acknowledge that major weather events like hurricanes or droughts are beyond human engineering capabilities. The GAO noted that while cloud seeding methods might offer a slight increase in precipitation, their overall effectiveness is still uncertain, and associated environmental risks at current levels from silver iodide used in the process are negligible. Moreover, specific state regulations currently exist, with Florida and Tennessee already enacting prohibitions on weather modification. As certain states consider passing legislation to ban these practices, Congresswoman Greene's hearing mirrors a growing societal concern about the ethical implications and potential unintended consequences of modifying weather. There remain prominent opinions against geoengineering in scientific circles, as experts warn that although weather modification may yield localized weather changes, it could also invoke unforeseen and possibly detrimental effects on the environment. The federal government faces calls to establish a standard law regarding weather modification that would unify regulations across the country, ensuring that scientific exploration does not compromise public safety and environmental health.