Solar geoengineering, also called Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), refers to a set of speculative technologies that seek to artificially cool the planet by intervening into the earth’s climate systems. One of the most discussed options is the massive injection of sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect some incoming sunlight back out into space, in order to have a cooling effect.

While some see solar geoengineering as a potential future tool to address the worst impacts of climate change, others view it as posing severe environmental, social, ethical, and geopolitical risks, also arguing that it would fail to address the root causes of climate change. Many point also to the complex global governance and justice challenges associated with solar geoengineering.

This topic proved to be very controversial at the United Nations Environment Assembly session in February 2024, where many developing countries called for a non-use mechanism for solar geoengineering, while others called for further assessment and research. No compromise was reached.

This session brings together representatives from governments, academia, youth, indigenous communities, and civil society to reflect on the latest policy and scientific developments within this rapidly evolving field, and to consider options for restrictive global governance. An urgent need is to integrate critical voices of the most vulnerable.

The session’s core aim is to advance understanding of how contemplating solar geoengineering as a future climate policy option could adversely affect the implementation and achievement of many interconnected SGDs, including those on climate, inequality, and inclusive and effective global governance.

Speakers

Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management, Vanuatu

Hibaa-Haibado Ismael H. Tani, Third Counsellor, Djibouti Embassy in Kenya (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), Republic of Djibouti

James Turpin, Chief of the Prevention and Sustaining Peace Section, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), New York Office, United States

Chukwumerije Okereke, Professor of Global Climate Governance and Public Policy, University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Lili Fuhr, Director of Fossil Economy Program, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Germany

Panganga Pungowiyi, Climate Geoengineering Organizer, Indigenous Environmental Network, United States Raymond Pierrehumbert, Halley Professor of Physics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Frank Biermann, Professor of Global Sustainability Governance, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Aarti Gupta, Professor of Global Environmental Governance, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Heleen Bruggink, Co-Founder of Mind Our Future Critical Youth on Solar Geoengineering, Germany