By Whitney Peterson, Director of Strategy and Communications
This year has been a pivotal moment for the global discourse on solar geoengineering (also known as solar radiation management or SRM). What was once a relatively niche scientific conversation has become a contentious and multifaceted debate, with perspectives ranging from rigorous scientific inquiry to alarmist conspiracy theories. Across the globe, SRM is now a flashpoint for discussions about climate justice, governance, and environmental ethics. The year has seen major developments: governments and academic institutions continued to advance research agendas, while some nations and communities voiced growing concerns and the need to recognize equity and the risks of unilateral deployment. Meanwhile, international forums, such as the Sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) and the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), showcased an increasing but uneven interest in SRM governance, with no firm consensus on the way forward.
At the same time, we’ve also witnessed increased media coverage and polarizing shifts, particularly in the United States, where the conversation has moved to corporate power, government transparency, and environmental governance. Conversations have intensified across the spectrum, from scientific deliberations to conspiracy-fueled narratives. The rise of “para-environmentalism” (a term Dr. Holly Buck recently coined) has played a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions. This loosely held and evolving belief system, blending fringe beliefs with mainstream environmental anxieties, has impacted disparate groups questioning geoengineering’s motives and risks. Figures like RFK Jr., slated for a cabinet position in the Trump administration, exemplify this trend, combining concerns about covert weather manipulation with traditional environmental fears of unchecked technological control.
As DSG Executive Director Dr. Shuchi Talati recently wrote, the deregulated environment provided by the Trump administration could create fertile ground for private-sector actors and venture capitalists to dominate SRM research and potential deployment. This may mean that private actors like Make Sunsets, a California-based SRM deployment startup actively launching balloons, and Stardust Solutions, a U.S.-Israeli for-profit research organization currently conducting outdoor experiments and exploring proprietary aerosols, won’t face public scrutiny, leaving room for more companies and venture capitalists to step into the space without constraints.
These developments, coupled with regional disparities in how SRM is perceived, underscore the urgent need for transparent, inclusive, and globally coordinated governance frameworks. As we reflect on the progress and challenges of 2024, the conversation around SRM highlights both the potential of these technologies and the profound risks of navigating them without equity and accountability at the forefront.
In this fragmented and contentious landscape, The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG) has advanced informed, inclusive, and science-based dialogue. Over our first full year as an organization, DSG has worked to bridge gaps between stakeholders, elevate underrepresented voices, and counter misinformation with clarity and transparency. DSG has fostered nuanced conversations around SRM governance and research through workshops, publications, and collaborations with global partners. By prioritizing equity, transparency, and public engagement, we aim to build trust and ensure that decisions in this space are guided by ethical considerations and the best available science.
Building Regional Voices in Solar Geoengineering Governance
DSG’s Global Engagement program empowers communities in climate-vulnerable regions to actively shape the future of solar geoengineering governance. Through workshops in regions like South Asia, Africa, and the Arctic, in 2024, DSG connected with hundreds of policymakers, civil society organizations, youth leaders, and other stakeholders. Notably, in South Asia, DSG led multiple different types of deliberations. These include (but are not limited to):
- The Solar Geoengineering Scenarios Development Workshop in India, in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to explore SRM’s impacts and governance challenges, ensuring India’s perspectives shape global research and decision-making.
- The first-ever training seminar on solar geoengineering in Pakistan, which brought together 15 external organizations, academia, and journalists, highlighting the potential for collaborative approaches to governance.
In partnership with The African Climate Foundation (ACF), DSG conducted a series of workshops engaging hundreds of participants from 14 African nations to foster inclusive and regionally informed discussions on SRM research and governance. The first virtual workshop introduced the impacts of climate change on the African region, laying the groundwork for understanding the continent’s unique challenges. The second virtual session explored SRM governance and ethics from an African perspective, emphasizing the importance of involving civil society and policymakers in inclusive decision-making processes.
The series culminated in an in-person workshop in South Africa, focusing on the critical role of civil society organizations in galvanizing public engagement and ensuring that South African perspectives on SRM are rooted in justice and fairness. This pilot deliberative process aimed to amplify local voices and empower African stakeholders to shape global SRM governance discussions. In early 2025, DSG will be releasing the final report from these workshops, which will demonstrate the insights gathered, highlight the diverse perspectives shared by participants, and outline key recommendations for advancing inclusive, just, and regionally informed SRM governance frameworks. This report aims to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, civil society, and researchers.
Driving Change: DSG’s International Policy Program for Equitable Governance
On the international stage, DSG contributed to major forums and advocated for governance frameworks that prioritize equity and transparency. Discussions at UNEA-6 centered around a controversial resolution on SRM underscored the complexities of addressing solar geoengineering within global policy frameworks. The resolution, ultimately withdrawn, highlighted the tension between calls for regulatory measures and the need for capacity building and inclusive deliberation.
In October 2024, Alia Hassan, DSG’s Director of International Policy, addressed the UN General Assembly High-Level Plenary on the existential threats posed by sea level rise. She emphasized the necessity for member states to be equipped with the best available science to make informed decisions about solar geoengineering. Hassan called on the General Assembly to support the development of an inclusive and transparent governance framework for SRM that prioritizes equity and safeguards vulnerable populations. This engagement underscored DSG’s commitment to ensuring that discussions on SRM are guided by ethical considerations and the needs of those most affected by climate change.
Empowering Future Leaders
DSG’s Youth Engagement Program has quickly become a vital platform for empowering the next generation of climate leaders to engage meaningfully in the SRM field. This year, DSG hosted post UNEA-6 workshops in Nairobi and Mombasa, where participants explored the intersection of SG and Africa’s unique climate challenges. These sessions emphasized localized and culturally sensitive approaches, equipping young academics and professionals with the knowledge to critically engage in SRM discussions. Similarly, the Arctic Youth Futures workshops convened youth leaders from across the region to address the complex environmental and social dynamics of the Arctic, ensuring these critical perspectives are represented in global governance dialogues. DSG also worked with university students on simulation exercises on which placed students at the center of multilateral negotiation process modeled after the UN Environmental Assembly discussions about solar geoengineering. Together, these workshops and exercises showcased DSG’s commitment to elevating diverse regional voices and creating spaces for meaningful participation in the global conversation on SRM.
DSG also launched the Climate Intervention Network (CIN) this fall as a cornerstone of the Youth Engagement Program, which aims to foster connections among young professionals and academics across the Global South. CIN offers an interdisciplinary network of individuals, evidence-based resources, and interactive opportunities, enabling participants to engage deeply with the risks, benefits, and governance implications of SRM. By building a strong and continuously-growing network of informed and empowered young leaders, CIN is positioning its members to play a pivotal role in shaping equitable SRM governance frameworks in their regions and beyond. DSG’s Youth Engagement Program continues to demonstrate the power of investing in youth leadership to ensure a just, inclusive, and representative future for solar geoengineering governance.
Building Understanding and Amplifying Voices in Solar Geoengineering
This year, DSG focused on enhancing public understanding, demystifying and fostering informed dialogue around solar geoengineering through targeted communications and media engagement. We produced a range of educational resources, including reports and white papers on topics like addressing solar geoengineering within the Convention on Biodiversity Framework, insights into our global engagement decision-making, governance capacity and key actors in SRM, as well as a co-produced policy brief articulating SRM governance from the Pakistan perspective. Widely-shared infographics on SRM techniques, governance, and justice have become valuable tools for policymakers, educators, and civil society organizations worldwide. DSG also published over 20 articles and commentaries exploring critical issues such as the impact of the incoming Trump administration on SRM, the role of communication in public trust and perception, reflections from COP CBD16, UNEA-6, and Climate Week NYC, and governance capacity building.
Media engagement helped amplify DSG’s reach across the United States and the world, with features in nearly 40 major outlets, including Politico, The New York Times, and NPR. Through op-eds in outlets like Climate Home News and The Friday Times and a high-profile Earth Day interview on ABC News The Power of Us Series, DSG has solidified its role as a thought leader in SRM governance worldwide. These media engagements not only showcase our expertise but also help drive informed, evidence-based dialogue on this critical issue. Additionally, DSG’s growing social media and newsletter audiences have expanded opportunities for engaging diverse stakeholders, further reflecting our commitment to accessible and inclusive conversations about solar geoengineering.
The Path Forward: 2025 and Beyond
2024 has underscored the urgency of fostering a more unified and constructive global dialogue on solar geoengineering. While the U.S. grapples with polarized narratives and the rise of para-environmentalism, many in the Global South remain wary, but curious, about the potential for these technologies. DSG’s work this year demonstrates the importance of building trust, creating platforms for inclusive engagement, and grounding the conversation in scientific integrity.
Moving forward, the challenge will be to reconcile these differing perspectives and establish governance structures that reflect the needs and concerns of all stakeholders. Solar geoengineering may or may not be an approach that is pursued, but the way it is debated, researched, and governed will have far-reaching implications for global climate justice. As we look ahead to 2025, there is much more to come, with plans to expand these efforts across more geographies and deepen engagement with diverse communities. In this pivotal moment, organizations like DSG will ensure that these conversations remain rooted in equity, transparency, and collaboration.