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Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative

The Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative is an international project that seeks to expand the global conversation around the governance of research into a form of geoengineering that aims to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface, so-called solar radiation management (SRM).

SRM has the potential to reduce some of the impacts of climate change, but it could also be very risky. Overall, it is unclear whether it would be helpful or harmful. One thing is clear: many developing countries would stand to gain or lose the most if SRM were ever deployed. Despite this, most research and discussion of SRM has taken place in developed countries.

The project is engaging with organizations concerned with natural and social science, governance and legal issues, as well as environmental and development NGOs, industry and civil society organizations from across the globe, but especially in developing countries. The Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) was set up in 2010 by the Royal Society (UK), the Environmental Defense Fund (USA) and TWAS.

Related News

  • After a series of 10 workshops in 10 developing countries over the past two years, the current phase of the SRMGI project will conclude with a major forum in Berlin, Germany. The SRMGI Global Forum will convene some 50 participants who have previously attended SRMGI national workshops and will be held over two days – 5 and 6 October 2020 – next to the Climate Engineering Conference 2020. 
  • Brazil hosted a key meeting on Tuesday, 22 November 2016 as part of an ambitious project to increase developing country engagement with issues related to the governance of solar radiation management geoengineering research.
  • Outreach workshop Solar Radiation Management: Research, Governance and Uncertainty, Jamaica, July 2016.
  • News release from SRMGI on the release of the US National Academy of Sciences report on 'Climate Intervention: Reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth', 10 February 2015.
  • In October 2013, the African Academy of Sciences published the summary report of three workshops held across Africa designed to raise the awareness of the solar geoengineering debate on the continent. The report is available for download from the AAS site.
  • African involvement in solar geoengineering – 8 January 2013. The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and SRMGI co-convened a half-day workshop on 14 January 2013, held in conjunction with the 24th Colloquium of African Geology (CAG24) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants from outside the CAG24 were also welcome to attend.
  • Workshop on 'Solar Geoengineering: Research, Governance, and African Involvement' – 15 November 2012. The Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) and the African Academy of Sciences organized a participatory half-day workshop on 'Solar Geoengineering: Research, Governance, and African Involvement' in Boksburg, South Africa.
  • SRMGI in Africa. A workshop held in Dakar, Senegal, on 27 June – under the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) – gave African scientists an opportunity to learn about the issues and join the discussion.
  • Geoengineering research: Call for coordinated action – 4 December 2011. TWAS joins an international consortium, including the Royal Society and the Environment Defense Fund, in a call for coordinated action on geoengineering research.
  • Report on solar radiation management (2011) – SRMGI has brought together diverse opinions and expertise from multidisciplinary fields, environmental and development NGOs, industry, and civil society organizations from around the globe on the topic of solar radiation management governance. The report, 'Solar radiation management: The governance of research', summarizes the opinions and issues.
  • Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) – 14 October 2011. TWAS, the Royal Society (UK) and the Environment Defense Fund (USA) are co-convening a project to open up the debate on how research into solar radiation management – a potential but controversial tool to reduce the effects of global warming – could be regulated.
  • SRMGI website goes live – 25 October 2010. A website dedicated to the Solar Radiation Management Initiative (SRMGI), of which TWAS is a partner, is now online.
  • Can geoengineering help combat climate change? – 18 March 2010. TWAS, The Royal Society, London, and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) are launching a major study on the governance of geoengineering.
  • It's time to discuss geoengineering and solar radiation – The concept of deliberately regulating the Earth’s climate is becoming discussed more and more frequently. Before any interventions are undertaken, however, research is required. But even this research is controversial. Who should decide if such research goes ahead – and under what mechanism? It was to discuss issues such as these that, in March 2010, TWAS teamed up with the UK’s Royal Society and the United States-based Environment Defense Fund in the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) .

 

Credit image at top: Flickr/Temari 09