Deliberation and governance requires research and assessment.

Examining risks and benefits and evaluating possible futures both with and without solar radiation modification is an important component and enabler of deliberation. This is critical for building a robust basis for future decisions on climate change and solar radiation modification.

Balanced deliberation and transparent, interdisciplinary research on solar radiation modification needs to start now along with broad-based assessments of implications. 

The complex impacts of climate change and implications of solar radiation modification for ecosystems and societies call for inclusive deliberations on the way forward. Research and assessment efforts need to provide crucial input to these processes that need to start long before decisions become urgent.

We invite those who share our concerns on how humanity will manage climate change and its impacts, and who subscribe to our call, to add their signature and share this message within their community

We call for balance in research and assessment of solar radiation modification 

Limiting greenhouse gas concentrations is the only solution to climate change.

The drastic changes in our atmosphere are caused by greenhouse gasses. Limiting the rise in their concentrations is thus the only way to eliminate the root cause. Yet other measures such as adaptation – and in the future potentially SRM – might end up playing a complementary role in limiting damage, losses and suffering.

Solar radiation modification might reduce climate impacts, but we do not know enough to judge its merits.

Solar radiation modification describes a set of hypothetical techniques seeking to reflect a small fraction of sunlight – for example using aerosols – to slow or limit temperature rise and growing climate threats. These techniques, however, probably involve environmental, societal and political risks.