Atmosphere Study Act

This legislation mandates the Secretary of Energy to undertake a comprehensive study aimed at identifying any negative impacts of specific geoengineering projects. This study, to be conducted in conjunction with relevant federal or state agencies, focuses specifically on the effects these projects have on human health and the environment . A "covered geoengineering project" is defined as any project that receives full or partial federal funding , or one in which a federal agency has participated or is currently participating. The bill requires the Secretary to submit a detailed report on the study's findings to Congress within one year of its conclusion. Geoengineering itself is defined as deliberate, large-scale interventions in the Earth's climate system designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Examples provided include injecting metal-based aerosols or releasing sulfate into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight, and spraying sea salt into marine clouds to enhance their reflectivity.