Solar Geoengineering
Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), also known as solar geoengineering, is a set of speculative technologies that seek to reflect some incoming sunlight back out into space, to have a cooling effect on the planet.
My research explores the complex global governance challenges this speculative and risky technological option poses. Given the highly uncertain, unequally distributed and partially unknowable ecological and political risks posed by SRM, I argue that we need immediate restrictive global governance of SRM, to prevent technological development and future use.
More broadly, I view the prospects of developing planet-altering technologies such as SRM as a dangerous distraction from the actions we urgently need to take to address climate change: To realign our politics to redress entrenched inequalities and foster a just transition away from fossil fuels worldwide.
As such, I call, along with other academics, for governments, the UN and other political actors to agree to an International Non-Use Agreement on Solar Geoengineering.
Image credit: Emily Liang
Given the unacceptable ecological, geo-political and political risks posed by future development and potential use of SRM, I choose to actively engage in societal debates and developments on this issue.
Since January 2022, I have come together with other like-minded academics to co-initiate an academic initiative calling for an International Non-Use Agreement on Solar Geoengineering.
This Call has now been signed by more than 550+ academics from over 65 countries. It urges governments and other political actors to act now to restrict development and potential future use of SRM.