Commentary and Emerging Views

At the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, governments advanced major ocean agreements, yet avoided formal discussion of emerging climate intervention technologies like marine carbon removal and solar geoengineering. In her reflection, Clara Botto highlights the danger of this silence, especially as private actors and unregulated experimentation move forward.

Germany’s Environment Agency has called for a global ban on SRM, including field experiments, citing environmental and ethical risks. While DSG shares concerns about unregulated deployment, a total research ban could backfire, pushing SRM science into private or opaque spaces.

Under the Trump administration, scientific institutions are being dismantled while companies move ahead without oversight. Global governance is weakening, public discourse is polarized, and SRM risks being shaped by ideology and profit, not science or justice.

In 2024, solar geoengineering gained global attention—sparking scientific interest, misinformation, and rising calls for governance. DSG responded by expanding partnerships across Africa and South Asia, launching youth programs, and contributing to key forums like COP29 and UNEA-6. Through workshops, publications, and media outreach, DSG worked to center equity, build capacity, and ensure inclusive, science-based decision-making.

COP29 ended without major breakthroughs, reflecting the global failure to meet emissions targets or prioritize climate justice. As solar radiation modification (SRM) gains attention in side events and informal discussions, the absence of formal UNFCCC engagement raises risks of fragmented governance and deepening inequities. DSG argues that outcome-neutral capacity building is essential, especially for Global South countries that remain underrepresented in SRM research and policy.

The European Union released three major reports outlining a cautious approach to solar radiation modification (SRM), emphasizing the need for transparency, restraint, and equity in any future exploration of the technology. The reports recommend a moratorium on SRM deployment, responsible and cooperative research, and the creation of global governance frameworks, while warning against approaches like cooling credits that could derail emissions reductions.

During New York Climate Week 2024, DSG and the International Center for Future Generations hosted a closed-door event aimed at fostering more inclusive, open dialogue on solar radiation modification (SRM). The session responded to growing polarization that often sidelines nuanced conversation and voices from climate-vulnerable communities. Participants emphasized that SRM is not just a technical issue but a human one, shaped by ethics, trust, and equity.

At COP16, the Convention on Biological Diversity reaffirmed its precautionary approach to solar geoengineering (SG), supporting limited research while prioritizing emissions reductions and ecosystem-based climate responses. The decision called for more transdisciplinary research, better knowledge-sharing, and inclusion of indigenous and local perspectives. It also urged clearer distinctions between SG and carbon removal, which differ significantly in risks and implications.

A new background paper from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) urges policymakers to prepare for a likely overshoot of 1.5°C and to consider emerging climate responses such as solar radiation modification (SRM).

On the global stage, DSG’s commitment to fostering inclusive and transparent dialogue on SG was showcased when Alia Hassan, DSG’s Director of International Policy, addressed the UN General Assembly High-level plenary on existential threats posed by sea level rise.

In this article, Shuchi Talati reflects on her role joining the Oversight Committee for ARIA’s new research program on Exploring Climate Cooling Options. The program supports global research, including small-scale outdoor experiments, to assess the feasibility, scalability, and safety of potential solar radiation modification (SRM) approaches.

The 14th annual meeting of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) brough together climate scientists to improve understanding of solar geoengineering through standardized climate modeling experiments. The meeting highlighted new proposals focused on regional impacts and emphasized the importance of developing policy-relevant scenarios.

Zachary Dove explores how building governance capacity can help ensure that solar geoengineering (SG) is researched and assessed in ways that are inclusive, just, and effective. Co-authored with Dr. Shuchi Talati and Dr. Sikina Jinnah, the piece emphasizes that existing governance systems fall short and that communities most vulnerable to climate change must lead in shaping SG decisions.

The UNEP’s Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing (2024) includes Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) as one of 18 emerging issues, ranking it relatively low in perceived urgency but underscoring its significance. The report stresses the need for scientific scrutiny, robust governance, and ethical deliberation, particularly to avoid a governance vacuum.

This article outlines DSG’s commitment to serving as an “honest broker” in solar geoengineering by sharing balanced, accessible, and science-based information without promoting or opposing deployment. DSG places a strong emphasis on transparency, inclusion, and equity, particularly for climate-vulnerable communities.

This article shares reflections from Clara Botto’s time observing Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) research in Australia, alongside insights from an interview with Holly Scoble, a scientist involved in the project. The conversation explores the goals of MCB to temporarily cool vulnerable reef areas, the lack of public awareness about such research, and the importance of engaging local communities and Traditional Owners.

This article explores the vital role of the media in shaping public understanding of solar geoengineering (SG). As SG gains attention, accurate and responsible media coverage is crucial for presenting it as part of a broader climate response—not a silver bullet or sensational fix. Effective journalism can demystify SG, explain risks and ethical dilemmas, and offer context that avoids alarmism or misinformation.

This article explores how solar geoengineering (SG) communicators can learn from other sectors—environment, health, and cryptocurrency—to avoid misinformation pitfalls, build trust, and promote ethical, inclusive dialogue. From the environmental sector, SG can adopt practices that center local voices, avoid greenwashing, and ensure vulnerable communities are part of decision-making.

This article explores how misinformation, sensationalism, and secrecy are distorting public understanding of solar geoengineering (SG). As interest in SG grows, limited transparency and engagement from researchers have left critical information gaps. These gaps are increasingly filled by conspiracy theories, clickbait headlines, and fictionalized media portrayals - further polarizing the issue and undermining public trust.

Clara Botto reflects on her recent visit to Kenya, where she engaged youth organizations in discussions about solar geoengineering following the UN Environment Assembly. Most young people she met had never heard of SG, and were frustrated to learn that decisions were being made without public awareness or input. The conversations revealed a strong desire for accessible, locally relevant information and civic engagement opportunities, like youth-led barazas (public forums).

This piece by Whitney Peterson reflects on how solar geoengineering (SG) has evolved from a fringe concept to a rapidly emerging—and polarizing—topic. While some worry that discussing SG will delay climate action, others push for research or deployment without transparency or accountability. Peterson argues that avoiding these discussions only heightens risk. Instead, it’s critical to engage now, with honesty, inclusivity, and a commitment to building trust.

Shuchi Talati reflects on her role as co-chair of the Independent Advisory Committee (AC) for SCoPEx, a proposed small-scale solar geoengineering experiment. She pushes back on the idea that governance is premature or impossible, arguing instead that governance is both feasible and necessary—even at the research stage.

At UNEA-6 in Nairobi, Member States debated a resolution on solar geoengineering (SRM), reflecting growing global attention to the issue amid rising for-profit activity and a lack of governance. While the resolution—proposed by Switzerland—was ultimately withdrawn, most countries, including climate-vulnerable ones, expressed strong concerns about SRM’s risks and moral hazard.

In January 2024, DSG expanded its Global Engagement Program with a workshop and outreach in Pakistan to strengthen local capacity on solar geoengineering. Partnering with COMSATS University, DSG convened academics, civil society, and government to explore SRM’s science and governance. Discussions highlighted Pakistan’s climate vulnerability and readiness for deeper engagement.

In this reflection, Clara Botto recounts first learning about solar geoengineering at a conference and noticing the absence of youth voices. Since then, she has focused on raising awareness among future leaders. As SG gains global attention, she cautions that ignoring it as too controversial risks excluding the climate justice movement from critical decisions. Botto urges more civil society engagement to uphold intergenerational equity in SG governance.

Last month, DSG visited South Africa to begin building partnerships with local researchers and civil society on solar geoengineering. With growing Global North interest in SRM, DSG is working to support informed, regionally grounded engagement. Meetings with 15 groups highlighted the need for trusted information and local analysis. This marks the start of deeper collaboration to ensure African voices help shape future governance.

A new UN Human Rights Council report examines the human rights dimensions of SRM, emphasizing the need for inclusive, rights-based governance. It aligns with DSG’s call to center Global South perspectives and build capacity before any decisions are made about research or deployment.

The European Union is cautiously engaging with solar geoengineering, calling for international governance while funding research on ethics and public perception. DSG sees this as a critical moment to ensure Global South voices are included as momentum grows in the Global North.

Hassaan Sipra joined DSG to help bring Global South leadership into SRM governance, driven by climate impacts in Pakistan and limited progress on emissions. His work highlights that while communities in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan are open to learning about SRM, they need more resources and representation in global decision-making.

Shuchi Talati founded DSG to help ensure that solar geoengineering is not shaped by powerful actors alone but through inclusive, transparent, and justice-centered governance. As interest in the field grows, she saw an urgent need for a trusted, independent organization that could support public engagement and elevate the voices of those most affected by climate change.