Mission & Principles

Mission

The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG) works towards just and inclusive deliberation about research and potential future use of solar geoengineering. 

Position

DSG supports well-governed research to develop knowledge in a way that is democratic, inclusive, transparent and aimed at supporting informed decision-making:

  • We support an expansion of modeling research that is impacts-oriented, engaging with a more diverse set of regionally oriented questions. 
  • We support small-scale experiments that do not have a climate impact, have scientific merit, and follow robust governance guidance aligned with existing principles such as the SCoPEx Advisory Committee governance framework or the AGU Ethical Framework on Climate Intervention). The information these experiments provide can improve modeling and develop further understanding of the risks and benefits of SG. 
  • However, we do not support larger-scale outdoor experiments, aligned with CBD COP10 decision X/33, “until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities and appropriate consideration of the associated risks for the environment and biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural impacts.” 
  • We support a moratorium on full deployment in alignment with the recommendations of the Climate Overshoot Commission.

DSG is outcome-neutral and remains committed to ensuring that any outcome or decision – whether around SG research, use, or non-use – is reached transparently, inclusively, and democratically. Given the pace of developments in this field and its global nature, DSG believes that there is a pressing need to foster informed discussions that uphold scientific integrity, enable good governance, and prioritize the well-being of communities and ecosystems. 

core beliefs

The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering has a set of foundational beliefs that drive why we do our work:

Climate justice is global: Solar geoengineering must be assessed through the lens of global climate justice. 

Solar geoengineering could only ever be additional and temporary: Solar geoengineering can only ever be considered as a temporary complement to rapid and robust emissions reductions, adaptation, and carbon dioxide removal.  

Governance must be early and inclusive: There is a narrow window of opportunity to shape governance in a just way in early stages of solar geoengineering.

People should be empowered to speak for themselves: All communities must speak for themselves and represent their interests in deliberation about solar geoengineering. 

Transparency is key: Transparency in funding, activities, and actors is a prerequisite for legitimacy. 

principles

The work of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering is centered on some common principles informing how we do our work: 

Privilege the most vulnerable: The most vulnerable to current and near term climate impacts deserve an impactful voice in solar geoengineering deliberation. DSG will center these voices in our work.  

Weigh all risks: DSG recognizes that justice-oriented engagement requires that all risks must be considered: those stemming from climate impacts in the absence of solar geoengineering as well as risks from potential solar geoengineering deployment scenarios. 

Advocate for process not outcome: DSG is focused on creating just processes and will always strive to work without bias to outcome. 

Empower narrative development, not narrative enforcement: DSG will empower people to formulate their own perspectives on solar geoengineering research and potential deployment rather than boxing them into existing narratives.

Don’t avoid the uncomfortable: Important questions about solar geoengineering are full of contextual nuance and complication. DSG will not avoid difficult conversations when narratives are challenged.

Be an honest broker: Accurate, honest representation of people’s words is vital. DSG will represent different views in an unbiased way. 

Empower civil society: DSG aims to empower civil society to meaningfully engage in solar geoengineering discourse wherever possible. 

Take context into account: Climate vulnerable countries and communities are deeply heterogenous. There are no inherently  good or bad actors. Rather, DSG will have to work to meet our goals within a complicated justice framework.

We can’t skip the slow work: It takes time to build capacity to enable the inclusive participation essential for legitimate governance. DSG will not not skip steps as it works to build just frameworks.