Solar Geoengineering Updates

Parallel and diverging responses across four Earth system models in response to cirrus cloud thinning climate intervention experiment

RESEARCH PAPERS

Authors: William McFarlane Smith, Daniele Visioni, Ben Kravitz, Evelien van Dijk, Trude Storelvmo and Hugh Hunt
Synopsis: A GeoMIP study tested cirrus cloud thinning (CCT) in four Earth System Models by increasing the fall speed of ice crystals under the high-emissions SSP5-8.5 scenario. All models projected global cooling of 0.42–0.93°C by mid-century and increased precipitation, as thinning cirrus clouds allowed more heat to escape to space. However, large differences in lower-cloud, humidity, and hydrological responses highlight major uncertainties and the need for better cirrus cloud representation.

Leveraging transfers to strengthen climate cooperation under the threat of solar geoengineering

Authors: David M. McEvoy, Matthew McGinty
Synopsis: Researchers investigate how financial transfers within international environmental agreements (IEAs) could reduce reliance on solar geoengineering (SGE). Their model shows that transfers can strengthen cooperation on emissions reductions, expand the number of stable agreements, improve overall efficiency, and indirectly limit potentially harmful SGE deployment by encouraging greater global climate mitigation.

“The apex of all climate interventions”? Reducing vulnerability to extreme heat in urban West Africa with direct cooling technology through Mirrors for Earth’s Energy - Preprint

Authors: Benjamin K Sovacool
Synopsis: Researchers present a case study of the Mirrors for Earth’s Energy Rebalancing (MEER) project in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which uses reflective mirrors and recycled PET bottle furniture to reduce urban heat exposure in vulnerable communities. Drawing on site visits, interviews, and document analysis, the study evaluates this RM approach as a potential low-cost intervention for extreme heat in a city where limited electricity access makes air conditioning largely unavailable.

Challenges and Opportunities of Solar Geoengineering for Climate Governance

Authors: Furini, Francesco ; Finus, Michael
Synopsis: This review examines the governance challenges associated with the potential deployment of solar geoengineering, focusing on the strategic incentives it creates for nations. It explores theoretical models of the "free-driver problem"—where one or a few countries could deploy the technology without global consent—and assesses how interactions between solar geoengineering and emissions mitigation could shape future international climate governance.

Cool cities, local contexts: A typology of cooling interventions across the disciplines to address extreme heat and decarbonization in urban areas

Authors: Melissa A Martin, Benjamin K Sovacool
Synopsis: A new review proposes a typology of local cooling interventions for tackling extreme heat, grouping strategies into four categories: lowering temperatures, modifying buildings, changing human behavior, and decarbonizing energy systems. Drawing on research across multiple disciplines, the study highlights how climate mitigation, adaptation, infrastructure resilience, and geoengineering can complement one another, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to address rising urban temperatures.

Tracing vessel-generated sea spray aerosols to support marine cloud brightening - Preprint

Authors: Xiaoshen Sun, Chris Medcraft, Ramon Braga, Peter Butcherine, Zoran Ristovski, Steven Siems, Christian J. Sanders, and Daniel P. Harrison
Synopsis: Scientists developed a new airborne "tracer" method to detect and track aerosols released during MCB experiments over Australia's Great Barrier Reef without using chemical tracers. By distinguishing sea spray aerosols from combustion exhaust, the technique reliably tracked MCB aerosol plumes across 14 research flights, providing a valuable tool for studying aerosol transport and assessing how MCB influences marine clouds and coral reef cooling.

Source

WEB POSTS

The Cooler - Much ado about geoengineering

Climate Trunk - Why Earth is reflecting less of the Sun’s energy

GNA - Experts call for African voice in solar geoengineering debate

NASA - Dimming the Sun (DimSun) Using Controllable Dust Cloud to Reduce Solar Insolation

Upon Further Reflections - Sunlight reflection options: a quick primer (and why Reflective prioritizes SAI)

University of Houston Law Center - New UH Law Center Report Offers Safe Permitting Model as States Weigh Counterproductive Legislation on Solar Radiation Management Research

ScienceDirect - Letter to the editor: Rethinking expertise on climate cooling technologies

African Tech Futures Lab - Selling Stability: The Problem with Pitching “Climate Stabilization” as a New Category of Climate Response

Everything and the Carbon Sink - Uncomfortable bedfellows: carbon removal and solar radiation management

The Telegraph - Heatwaves caused by fall in pollution

Carbon Brief - Factcheck: No, Europe’s heatwaves are not being ‘caused’ by declining air pollution

Scottish Government - Confirmation and Records of Geoengineering and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) activities over Scotland: EIR release

Nature - Can giant space mirrors boost green energy on Earth? A start-up aims to find out

New Scientist - Cloudy skies have slowed global warming – but that may be changing

E&E News by Politico - Trump ally floats Republican pitch for sun-blocking technologies

Reef Ranch - Reef Digress: Broadening the Boundaries of Human Intervention: Blind Alleys and Groundbreaking Ideas

REPORTS

University of Houston Law Center - ‎The Case Against Blanket Bans: A State Permitting Model for Solar Radiation Management

Renaissance Philanthropy - Building Permission Space & Narrative Framing for Climate Stabilization

UPCOMING EVENTS

31 July | Online - Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium (NEW)

01 September | Online - Beyond the Headlines: Reporting on Solar Geoengineering by Solution Journalism Network

10-11 September | Washington, DC. - 2026 RFF and Harvard SRM Social Science Research Workshop

12-15 October | Malaysia - Global Tipping Points 2026 | Abstract Deadline: 15 May

7–11 December 2026 | San Francisco, CA - AGU26 Anuual Meeting | Abstract Submission Deadline: 05 August 2026

10-14 January 2027 | Denver, CO & Online | 19th Symposium on Aerosol–Cloud–Climate Interactions

08-09 April 2027 | United States - 2027 Solar Radiation Management Annual Meeting by Simons Foundation

Is geoengineering a security threat? | The Land & Climate Podcast

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PODCASTS

“Geoengineering research is growing, as scientists look for increasingly radical means to protect humanity from the disastrous impacts of global heating.
Less publicly, concerns are also building about the use of these techniques for geopolitical disruption or control.
Technologies such as solar radiation management (SRM) and stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) are controversial amongst climate scientists: they could buy us time through a temporary cooling effect, but they would not actually stop global heating, and could cause other negative impacts.
Danielle Young tells Alasdair that scientific research on these technologies often lacks alignment with political realities. While scientists plan for multilateral governance regimes to protect global populations from heat, government and military officials are more likely to think about SRM or SAI in terms of weaponisation and international power struggles.”

The Albedo Imperative | ToSaveTheWorld

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

“Robbie Tulip and Gene Fry discuss how declining planetary albedo, primarily due to cloud loss, accelerates climate warming, necessitating urgent albedo restoration alongside carbon removal efforts.”

Have we entered a New Normal? Tom Harris | Cybernetics Society

“Have we entered a New Normal? The physics, the feedbacks, the implications and the responses to our changing climate
The talk walks through the physics of climate change using the very latest satellite data to show how the planet is out of energy balance, is accumulating energy at an accelerating rate, and how this energy is taken up as heat in different Earth systems.
The up-coming ‘Goliath’ El Niño effects will be looked at with reference to past events and the phenomenon of temperature ratcheting uncovered, leading to predictions for the second half of this decade. Tipping points are the next topic, focussing on the ocean currents and Amazon rainforest, as well as the economic consequences of the continued warming.
The talk then looks at the triad of measures we still have available to combat the predicament — decarbonising the economy, removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and deploying solar geoengineering.
Finally we try and answer the question of whether this is a new normal.”

Climate Intervention: Funding Impact Assessments | Climate Emergency Forum

“In this episode we introduce the Climate Intervention Environmental Impact Fund (CIEIF), a unique family-funded initiative that supports climate intervention field tests by financing rigorous environmental impact assessment and stakeholder outreach. Fund manager and environmental attorney Peter Jenkins and science advisor Dr. Renaud de Richter explain how the fund focuses on projects with real-world field trials that can scale to meaningful climate benefits, rather than basic research or conventional adaptation and clean energy efforts.”

SRM Governance, Ethics & Africa’s Role in Global Decision-Making | Emerging Climate Frontiers

“Join us for an insightful webinar on the governance, ethics, and global policy considerations surrounding Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), with a special focus on Africa’s voice in shaping international climate decisions. The session will be led by Prof. Samuel Essien Baidoo, Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science, who will share expert perspectives on the opportunities, challenges, and ethical questions surrounding emerging climate intervention technologies.”

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Weekly Solar Geoengineering Updates (13 July - 19 July 2026)

Andrew Lockley — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:48:06 GMT

JUMP TO SECTION

1. This Week’s Top SRM Updates
2. Research Papers
3. Theses
4. Web Posts
5. Reports
6. Job Opportunities
7. Podcasts
8. YouTube Videos
9. Upcoming Events

THIS WEEK’S TOP SRM HIGHLIGHTS

Research Paper: A stratospheric hose for solar radiation management (ScienceDirect)

Preprint: Purely light-scattering aerosols could induce positive shortwave radiative forcing over high-albedo surfaces (EGUSphere)

Preprint: Exit ramps crucial for outdoor testing of stratospheric aerosol injection (ResearchGate)

Thesis: Weather in a Geo-Engineered Climate: Extratropical Cyclones and Monsoon Dynamics (Utrecht University)

Opinion: It’s too darn hot. Blame global dimming: Earth is absorbing a lot more sunshine (The Economist)

New Resource: A New Taxonomy of Climate Interventions (African Tech Futures Lab)

Job Opportunity: Senior Scientist, Observing Systems & Inverse Modeling (Reflective)

YouTube Video: Offset Half the Warming: What Models Say (Climate Emergency Forum)

Read on to unpack more updates:

Solar geoengineering is one of the most important climate topics of our time.

If you value accessible, independent coverage of SRM research, governance, experiments, and policy developments, consider subscribing to Solar Geoengineering Updates.

Paid subscriptions directly support keeping this resource public, independent, and growing.

Solar radiation modification in Asia: Current progress, knowledge gaps and future priorities

RESEARCH PAPERS

Authors: Hai-Yuan TANG, Mou Leong TAN, Ze-Qian FENG, Xian-Li CHE, Fei ZHANG
Synopsis: A review of SRM research in Asia finds that, while the field has grown rapidly since 2023, major knowledge gaps remain. SRM could reduce temperatures but produce regionally varied impacts on rainfall, agriculture, health, sea level and climate systems. The authors identify key research, governance and capacity-building priorities to improve understanding of SRM risks and ensure stronger Asian representation in global research and policymaking.

Hydrologic Sensitivity of Snow and Streamflow Dynamics to Climate Forcing With and Without Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention

Authors: Abolfazl Rezaei, John Moore, Simone Tilmes, Daniele Visioni
Synopsis: Using two versions of the Community Earth System Model, researchers found that SAI could largely prevent the warming-driven shift from precipitation- to temperature-controlled snowpack across much of the Northern Hemisphere. By maintaining cooler conditions, SAI preserved snowfall and seasonal runoff patterns, particularly in regions near the snow–rain transition, although runoff responses remained more variable across regions.

Responses of streamflow extremes under solar radiation modification in the Muda River Basin, Malaysia

Authors: Puteri Nur Atiqah Bandira, Mou Leong Tan, Igor Gómez, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Zhongli Chen, Ying Shao
Synopsis: This study assessed how SRM could affect streamflow in Malaysia’s Muda River Basin using a calibrated hydrological model and GeoMIP6 climate projections. While SRM moderated changes in mean streamflow compared with a high-emissions scenario, it did not consistently reduce flood and drought extremes. The results reveal spatially varied hydrological impacts, highlighting the need for further research on SRM deployment strategies and multi-hazard climate risks.

A stratospheric hose for solar radiation management

Authors: Roderick A. Hyde
Synopsis: A proposed engineering concept outlines a high-altitude hose supported by balloons to continuously deliver hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) to 20 km for stratospheric aerosol injection. Designed to inject 100,000 tonnes of sulfur annually, a single hose could enable small-scale SRM field tests, while multiple systems could provide larger-scale cooling. The paper also evaluates key engineering challenges, including wind, pressure requirements, hose design and balloon support.

The Impact of Aerosols on Climate Forcing and Cloud Microphysics

Authors: M. G. Abdullaha, S. Uba, I. Jibril, N. Y. Muhammad, M. A. Abubakar, M. B. Isa, M. Samaila, Y. O. Isiaq
Synopsis: By combining satellite observations, ground-based measurements and climate model simulations, this study examined how aerosols influence climate and cloud formation. Sulfate aerosols were found to produce a cooling effect, while black carbon caused warming. Higher aerosol concentrations reduced cloud droplet size, increased cloud reflectivity and suppressed rainfall, underscoring the importance of accurately representing aerosol–cloud interactions in climate models.

Bubbles, Droplets, Climate: Tellus’s Enduring Influence on Sea Spray Aerosol Research

Authors: Matthew E. Salter
Synopsis: This Perspective reviews the evolution of scientific understanding of sea spray aerosol (SSA), from early discoveries linking bubble bursting to particle formation through to modern insights into its physical, chemical and biological drivers. It highlights advances in field observations, laboratory techniques and wave-channel experiments, while identifying key research gaps in SSA emissions, climate impacts and marine cloud brightening, emphasizing SSA’s importance in air–sea interactions and climate science.

A high-resolution coupled atmosphere-ocean model of the Great Barrier Reef: ACCESS-EMS-GBR v1.0 - Preprint

Authors: Rebecca L. Jackson, Matthew T. Woodhouse, et al.
Synopsis: Researchers developed ACCESS-EMS-GBR, a high-resolution regional atmosphere–ocean model for Australia's Great Barrier Reef that couples atmospheric, oceanic, biogeochemical and coral reef processes. Designed primarily to assess MCB, the model accurately reproduces observed aerosols, seawater temperatures and irradiance. It also improves sea-salt aerosol representation, enhancing simulations of MCB and supporting broader studies of marine aerosols, reef ecosystems and climate interactions.

Purely light-scattering aerosols could induce positive shortwave radiative forcing over high-albedo surfaces - Preprint

Authors: Longrui Zhang, Taveen Singh Kapoor, Prabhav Upadhyay, and Rajan K. Chakrabarty
Synopsis: This study shows that scattering aerosols in the stratosphere, including those from SAI or spacecraft reentry, can produce unexpected positive shortwave radiative forcing over bright snow- and ice-covered surfaces. Radiative transfer simulations reveal that commonly used climate model approximations underestimate this effect. The findings suggest localized warming and snowmelt impacts from SAI and reentry-derived aerosols may be greater than previously estimated.

Exit ramps crucial for outdoor testing of stratospheric aerosol injection - Preprint

Authors: Gregory Nemet
Synopsis: An analysis of proposed SAI activities found a seven-order-of-magnitude gap between the largest planned experiments and early deployment scenarios. The authors argue that intermediate-scale tests could reduce scientific, technical and governance uncertainties while limiting risks. However, they caution that testing may increase the likelihood of deployment, emphasizing the need for robust “exit ramps” to prevent unjustified escalation.

Source

Weather in a Geo-Engineered Climate: Extratropical Cyclones and Monsoon Dynamics - Thesis

THESES

Authors: Nooij, Meike de
Synopsis: This thesis examines how SAI affects extratropical cyclones and major monsoon systems using high-resolution climate simulations. SAI caused region-specific shifts in storm tracks, reduced cyclone-related winter precipitation compared with a high-emissions scenario, and altered monsoon timing and rainfall through changes in atmospheric circulation. The findings show that SAI creates distinct climate responses rather than simply reversing global warming impacts.

WEB POSTS

The Telegraph - The British boffins battling to dim the sun

The European Correspondent - Can we refreeze the Arctic?

The ARC: Thoughts on a safe climate future - The drivers of AMOC’s destabilization

DSG - Readiness Is Not a Destination: Lessons from a Cross-Sector Dialogue

The Economist - The rate at which Earth is absorbing energy is alarming scientists

Inevitable & Obvious - Why I Support Stabilization Research

Janos Pasztor - The China Sustainability Tribune interviewed me on a range of Climate Change Issues

The Economist - It’s too darn hot. Blame global dimming: Earth is absorbing a lot more sunshine

African Tech Futures Lab - A New Taxonomy of Climate Interventions

Ocean Visions - What Are Mixed-Phase Clouds, and Could They Help Save Arctic Sea Ice?

University of Cape Town - Geoengineering alone won’t save Africa from deadly heat, UCT study finds

Matthew Henry - What do climate models say about the impact of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on the monsoons?

Mongabay - In the Canadian Arctic, an experiment aims to stabilize thinning sea ice

Staff Research Engineer at Climate Systems Engineering Research Initiatives | United States

REPORTS

EESA - Satellite and Model Data to Inform Solar Radiation Modification Techniques

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

“The Climate Systems Engineering initiative at the University of Chicago seeks an experienced Research Engineer to help bridge the gaps between academic modeling and factual engineering planning of SAI and open-system CDR.”

Senior Scientist, Observing Systems & Inverse Modeling at Reflective | Remote or San Francisco, California, United States

“Reflective is a global, non-profit research organization aiming to radically accelerate the pace of sunlight reflection research. We equip the world with the data and tools needed to make informed decisions about sunlight reflection, fast enough to matter.”

Director, Research and Origination, Fund Ecosystem at Renaissance Philanthropy & Senior Manager, Research and Origination, Fund Ecosystem at Renaissance Philanthropy

“Renaissance Philanthropy’s aim is to activate a virtuous loop of increasing ambition and impact between philanthropists and innovators: by identifying frontier experts both in science and in new ways of solving problems; by tapping into the growing number of emerging philanthropists; and by building multi-sector initiatives that can harness the power of philanthropy, markets, and governments.”

PODCASTS

Can we engineer ourselves out of a heatwave? | BBC Inside Science

“As the UK and Europe battles with extreme weather warnings, is it time for us to consider some more extreme tactics to tackle the heat? Tom Whipple is joined by Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, to explore if solar geoengineering can help.”

Live Discussion: The History of Solar Geoengineering | SRM360

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

“SRM360 hosted a live discussion on how the field of solar geoengineering originated and developed, and how it may evolve in the future.
Watch the recording to explore this topic with expert panellists David Keith, Sikina Jinnah, and Oliver Morton.”

Albedo Feedbacks Dominate Current & Future Warming to ≥ 6°C’. Gene Fry HPAC Presentation | Robbie Tulip

“Dr Gene Fry presents his analysis of the growing role of albedo loss in global warming at a meeting of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition held on 20 February 2026.
Drawing on temperature records, Earth energy imbalance measurements, paleoclimate evidence and changes in clouds, aerosols, snow and sea ice, Dr Fry argues that greenhouse gases initiate warming while declining planetary reflectivity increasingly amplifies it.”

Offset Half the Warming: What Models Say | Climate Emergency Forum

“Herb Simmens of the Climate Emergency Forum speaks with climate scientist Dr. Ken Caldeira at the first Climate Systems Engineering Conference at the University of Chicago. Caldeira reflects on his pioneering role in solar geoengineering and recounts the unlikely bureaucratic origins of the now‑dominant term “solar radiation management.””

Laurie Laybourn - The Security Blind Spot: Climate Tipping Points | Healthy Planet Action Coalition

UPCOMING EVENTS

01 September | Online - Beyond the Headlines: Reporting on Solar Geoengineering by Solution Journalism Network

10-11 September | Washington, DC. - 2026 RFF and Harvard SRM Social Science Research Workshop

12-15 October | Malaysia - Global Tipping Points 2026 | Abstract Deadline: 15 May

7–11 December 2026 | San Francisco, CA - AGU26 Anuual Meeting | Abstract Submission Deadline: 05 August 2026

10-14 January 2027 | Denver, CO & Online | 19th Symposium on Aerosol–Cloud–Climate Interactions

08-09 April 2027 | United States - 2027 Solar Radiation Management Annual Meeting by Simons Foundation

Add our Solar Geoengineering Events Calendar to your default calendar in 2 ways:

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Weekly Solar Geoengineering Updates (06 July - 12 July 2026)

Andrew Lockley — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:24:57 GMT

JUMP TO SECTION

1. This Week’s Top SRM Updates
2. Research Papers
3. Web Posts
4. Reports
5. Upcoming Events
6. YouTube Videos

THIS WEEK’S TOP SRM HIGHLIGHTS

Research Paper: Targeted marine cloud brightening weakens subsequent El Niño (Science Advances)

Monthly News Brief: Monthly Solar Geoengineering Updates (June’2026) (Solar Geoengineering Updates)

Report: Governance of solar radiation modification research (UK Parliament)

Opinion Piece: Engage in the solar geoengineering debate: Why India must shape the rules before the sun goes dim (The Economic Times)

Upcoming Event: Beyond the Headlines: Reporting on Solar Geoengineering (Solution Journalism Network)

YouTube Video: What Happens to Our Food Supply When We Dim the Sun? with Brendan Clark (Climate Chat)

Read on to unpack more updates:

Solar geoengineering is one of the most important climate topics of our time.

If you value accessible, independent coverage of SRM research, governance, experiments, and policy developments, consider subscribing to Solar Geoengineering Updates.

Paid subscriptions directly support keeping this resource public, independent, and growing.

Marine cloud brightening of cumulus clouds: from the sprayer to the cloud

RESEARCH PAPERS

Authors: Johannes Kainz, Daniel P. Harrison, and Fabian Hoffmann
Synopsis: This study uses high-resolution large-eddy simulations with detailed cloud microphysics to evaluate how aerosol sprayer height affects the effectiveness of MCB over trade-wind cumulus clouds. The results show that near-surface sprayers are the most effective because they enhance aerosol dispersion within the boundary layer, increase the number of clouds influenced by the aerosols, and promote greater transport into developing clouds, leading to higher cloud droplet concentrations and improved cloud brightening.

Pathway-dependent responses of temperature extremes under Solar Radiation Modification over Northern Africa

Authors: Kenny T.C. Lim Kam Sian, Victor Ongoma, Temitope Samuel EGBEBIYI, Oualid Hakam, Walker Raymond LEE
Synopsis: Using CMIP6 and GeoMIP6 climate model simulations, this study examines how SRM influences temperature extremes across Northern Africa. While SRM reduces the intensification of extreme heat compared with a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), it does not replicate the pattern of temperature extremes under a mitigation pathway (SSP2-4.5), even at similar mean temperatures. Instead, SRM produces distinct changes in the frequency, distribution, and structure of temperature extremes, highlighting that cooling global temperatures does not fully restore regional climate extremes.

Climate Change Action and Climate Geoengineering Under Neorealism

Authors: Filipe Duarte Santos and Yvette Ramos
Synopsis: Examining climate politics through both liberal and neorealist international orders, this study explores how global power dynamics shape climate policy and geoengineering. It argues that a shift toward a US–China bipolar system could increase the likelihood of SRM deployment despite its risks, uncertainties, and lack of international governance. The analysis also suggests US climate policy is influenced more by fossil-fuel interests than by climate science, while emphasizing that SRM cannot replace emissions reductions.

Targeted marine cloud brightening weakens subsequent El Niño

Authors: Jessica S. Wan, John T. Fasullo, Nan Rosenbloom, Chih-Chieh Chen, and Katharine Ricke
Synopsis: Building on observations from the 2019–2020 Australian wildfires, this study investigates whether MCB could weaken El Niño events by targeting climate variability rather than long-term warming. Simulations show that early, sustained MCB in the southeast Pacific can disrupt the feedbacks that strengthen El Niño, potentially restoring neutral ENSO conditions and reducing teleconnections. However, the intervention may also trigger unintended consequences, including an earlier La Niña, highlighting the complexity and risks of using MCB to influence climate variability.

Modeled dependence of climate feedback on CO2 and stratospheric aerosol forcing at different latitudes

Authors: Long Cao and Yu Fang
Synopsis: This study investigates how climate feedbacks influence the effectiveness (forcing efficacy) of CO₂ and stratospheric sulfate aerosol forcing using the NCAR CAM4 climate model. Global aerosol forcing produced about 90% of the warming response of equivalent CO₂ forcing due to differences in albedo, water vapour, lapse rate, and cloud feedbacks. The results also show forcing location matters greatly: polar forcing was over three times more effective than global forcing, while tropical forcing was only about half as effective.

Surface temperature response to MCB during the 2015–2016 and 1997–1998 El Niño (Source)

WEB POSTS

Solar Geoengineering Updates - Monthly Solar Geoengineering Updates (June’2026)

The Times - Bright sparks hope drones giving clouds a jolt can cool planet

Kentucky New Era - Legislators urge General Assembly to enforce geoengineering penalties

Peter Dynes - The Red Flags Are Everywhere. Why Are We Still Arguing About Whether Cooling Research Is Necessary?

The Cooler - Is geoengineering going to save us all? - Are we even ready to talk about it?

Issue Wire - Independent Author Explores Solar Geo-engineering, AI and Humanity’s Future in New Adventure Novel

Science News - Can geoengineering blunt El Niño’s fury?

CVNM - Conservation Voters New Mexico Statement of Principles Solar Radiation Modification

SRM360 - Different Takes: Reflections on Paul Crutzen’s SRM Paper, 20 Years On

The Economic Times - Engage in the solar geoengineering debate: Why India must shape the rules before the sun goes dim

Robbie Mallett - Sea ice geoengineering

University of Cambridge - Chasing cloudbows: student builds a drone to measure cloud droplets

New Scientist - Seeding clouds with seawater could prevent a super El Niño

The Economic Times - Not a risk worth taking: Solar Geoengineering could put India’s monsoon at risk

REPORTS

UK Parliament - Governance of solar radiation modification research

UPCOMING EVENTS

16 July | Online - Live Discussion: The History of Solar Geoengineering by SRM360

01 September | Online - Beyond the Headlines: Reporting on Solar Geoengineering by Solution Journalism Network (NEW)

10-11 September | Washington, DC. - 2026 RFF and Harvard SRM Social Science Research Workshop

12-15 October | Malaysia - Global Tipping Points 2026 | Abstract Deadline: 15 May

7–11 December 2026 | San Francisco, CA - AGU26 Anuual Meeting | Abstract Submission Deadline: 05 August 2026

10-14 January 2027 | Denver, CO & Online | 19th Symposium on Aerosol–Cloud–Climate Interactions

08-09 April 2027 | United States - 2027 Solar Radiation Management Annual Meeting by Simons Foundation

Changing the Climate: Is Solar Geoengineering Hope or Folly? | Plan C: For Civilization

Add our Solar Geoengineering Events Calendar to your default calendar in 2 ways:

Head to this link: https://teamup.com/ks64mmvtit583eitxx

Sync specific event: Click the event → menu (≡) → Share → choose your calendar → Save.

Or sync all events: Menu (≡) → Preferences → iCalendar Feeds → Copy URL → Add to your calendar settings → Subscribe.

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

“The ‪PlanCForCivilization‬ team gathered during London Climate Action Week for a private screening and workshop focused on these core questions. In a series of future forward exercises led by Foresight practitioner Tessa Finlev, participants were asked to imagine radical solutions to the climate crisis and the potential paths towards them.
Should solar-geoengineering be one lever we pull? What governance structures need to be in place to decide, collectively, the path forward? “

What Happens to Our Food Supply When We Dim the Sun? with Brendan Clark | Climate Chat

“In this Climate Chat episode, host Dan Miller interviews Cornell atmospheric climate scientist Brendan Clark about his research on how Sunlight Reflection Methods (SRM, a.k.a., solar geoengineering) will impact vegetation growth and agriculture. We will also discuss Brendan’s recent paper on how global warming induced changes to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is slowing the growth of trees and reducing an important carbon sink.
Dr. Brendan Clark is an atmospheric scientist and Postdoctoral Research Associate at Cornell University who specializes in modeling climate intervention scenarios, specifically Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention (SAI). His research focuses on evaluating the regional trade-offs and agricultural impacts of solar geoengineering, simulating how altered temperature and sunlight patterns would affect global crop production, food security, and terrestrial ecosystems. A former graduate researcher at Rutgers University, he has authored prominent papers on these climate engineering variables, including a lead-author study in Nature Food examining how optimal climate intervention strategies vary by nation.”

IfM Buns Talk - Climate Repair: Can We Refreeze the Arctic? | Centre for Climate Repair

“Global warming is on target to exceed 2C by 2050. Arctic sea ice will almost certainly have vanished by then. The AMOC is weakening. Storms, floods and droughts are increasing in severity and frequency. What can we do? Emissions reductions alone are not sufficient, even when supplemented by carbon offsetting (Net Zero). We’re left with options to reflect sunlight, by emulating volcanic eruptions with stratospheric aerosols or increasing the reflectivity of clouds. There are even people talking about space reflectors. This talk will outline the activities of the Centre for Climate Repair and the options available to us. Time is running out!”

George Monbiot | The Most Important Technology You’ve Never Heard Of | Novara Media

“With Michael Walker and Guardian Columnist George Monbiot.
00:00 Intro
02:23 Farage Vs Binface
09:20 The Cost & Politics Of The Climate Crises
24:22 Blair Vs Humanity
29:13 Carbon Capture
39:22 Geo-Engineering
48:37 “Impossible” Begets “Inevitable”
55:55 Rewilding
1:00:04 “The most important environmental technologies ever developed!”
1:05:34 Will China Save Us?”

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Monthly Solar Geoengineering Updates (June'2026)

Andrew Lockley — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:37:12 GMT

a) Source b) Source c) Source

Solar geoengineering is one of the most important climate topics of our time.

If you value accessible, independent coverage of SRM research, governance, experiments, and policy developments, consider subscribing to Solar Geoengineering Updates.

Paid subscriptions directly support keeping this resource public, independent, and growing.

Follow us on: Twitter | Bluesky | LinkedIn | Google Group | Podcast

TOP 10 SRM UPDATES FROM JUNE 2026

Latin American and Caribbean Lawmakers Adopts Declaration on Regional SRM Governance

Following a science-policy dialogue co-hosted by Degrees Initiative and the Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO) adopted a declaration recognizing the importance of solar radiation management for the region while emphasizing that decisions should be guided by scientific evidence, multilateral governance, and caution regarding risks and uncertainties.

The declaration also tasks PARLATINO’s Environment and Tourism Commission with organizing expert forums and drafting a Regional Framework Law on Climate Change Governance with specific provisions on geoengineering, providing a model for future national legislation across the region.

Degrees Initiative Awards Seven SRM Expansion Grants

The Degrees Initiative has awarded seven 30-month Expansion Grants worth up to £200,000 (≈US$270,000) each to strengthen Global South expertise in solar geoengineering. Building on earlier modelling grants, the funding will support researchers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to expand scientific capacity, mentor early-career researchers, and generate regionally relevant evidence to inform future climate policy and governance.

Request for Proposals on SRM Impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa

Launched by the University of Exeter in partnership with the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), a new call invites proposals for up to £70,000 to study how solar radiation modification could affect communities and regional climates across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The programme focuses on modelling impacts on climate systems, agriculture, water resources, and society. The research agenda was shaped through an African co-design workshop led by the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering and the University of Cape Town. Deadline for applications is 7 August 2026.

GeoMIP Climate Simulation Data Published on Earthmover Marketplace

Reflective has published cloud-optimized GeoMIP (Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project) climate simulation datasets on the Earthmover marketplace, making large-scale, analysis-ready climate data publicly accessible for research. The release includes high-performance Zarr/Icechunk formats for GeoMIP MIROC-ES2H G6-1.5K simulations, modelling stratospheric aerosol injection to limit global warming, and GeoMIP CESM2-WACCM G6-1.5K simulations, which explore solar radiation modification using NCAR’s Community Earth System Model.

What Europeans Think About Solar Radiation Modification

‎A new synthesis of multi-country surveys showed that most Europeans have little prior awareness of solar radiation modification, but form cautious views after learning about it. Public opinion is broadly not opposed to SRM research, provided it is transparent, independently governed, and focused on assessing risks, including environmental, ethical, and geopolitical concerns.

Key worries include unequal regional impacts, “moral hazard” effects on climate action, and uncertainty over large-scale deployment outcomes. While modelling and small-scale research are generally accepted, outdoor testing and deployment face stronger opposition and calls for strict international oversight.

Climate Intervention Futures Initiative Launched to Rethink Governance of Climate Technologies

African Tech Futures Labs has launched the Climate Intervention Futures Initiative (CIFI) to strengthen the conceptual foundations for governing climate intervention technologies. The initiative distinguishes between human interventions, Earth system responses, and resulting impacts, arguing that governance should focus on how climate interventions are conducted rather than on their inherently uncertain environmental outcomes.

CIFI will also develop a taxonomy of climate interventions and examine governance lessons from fields such as AI, nuclear energy, and weather modification, aiming to strengthen the conceptual foundations for climate decision-making.

Researchers Develop Balloon-Based Sensor to Improve Stratospheric Aerosol Monitoring

Researchers have developed a lightweight balloon-borne instrument, the Profiling Optical Particle Counter (POPC), to improve measurements of stratospheric aerosol size distribution, a key factor in understanding atmospheric radiative and chemical processes relevant to volcanic activity, wildfires, and potential SRM.

The upgraded 30-channel, 500g device measures particles between 0.3-10 µm and shows strong agreement with established instruments. Deployed in over 87 flights since 2018, it has successfully tracked major volcanic and pyroCb smoke plumes and is now used internationally within the BalNeO network, with data made publicly available for climate research.

Applications Open for African Climate Intervention Fellowship 2026

Applications have opened for the African Climate Intervention Fellowship for Early-Career Researchers (ACIFER) 2026, a fully funded virtual programme hosted by Emerging Climate Frontiers. Running from 31 August to 14 October 2026, the fellowship will train early-career African researchers in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation modification through expert-led webinars, mentorship, climate modelling, policy collaboration, and proposal development. Applications close on 30 July 2026.

Early Arctic Sea-Ice Rethickening Trials Show Promise, but Global Climate Benefits Questioned

Early field trials near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada using seawater pumping techniques reported ice thickening of up to around 50 cm and temporary improvements in seasonal ice resilience. However, researchers stressed that the findings remain preliminary, with major uncertainties around scalability, environmental impacts, and long-term effectiveness.

Separately, a new analysis argues that sea-ice thickening may work at a local scale but is unlikely to meaningfully influence pan-Arctic or global climate impacts in coming decades, suggesting it should instead be viewed as a local climate adaptation measure led by Arctic communities rather than a geoengineering intervention.

AGU26 to Feature Multiple Sessions on SRM and Climate Intervention Research

The AGU26 Annual Meeting will take place on 7-11 December 2026 in San Francisco, California, bringing together thousands of Earth and space scientists to discuss the latest research. Abstract submissions are currently open, with the deadline set for 5 August 2026.

Several sessions covering Solar Radiation Modification include topics such as aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions, climate intervention benefits, risks and uncertainties, governance, cryosphere responses, and the consequences of and potential responses to Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) slowdown or collapse. Find all SRM-related sessions here.

For a full recap of last month’s updates, check out our weekly summaries: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5

And here’s an overview:

RESEARCH PAPERS

Performance of Solar-Sail Materials at the Photo-Gravitational Equilibrium Point L1 | Authors: Marina Coco, Catello Leonardo Matonti, Giuseppe Governale, et al.

Study finds prolonged space exposure could degrade solar sails, potentially reducing the long-term stability and station-keeping of space-based planetary sunshade systems.

On the detectability by uninvolved parties of covert stratospheric aerosol injection programs producing transboundary impacts | Authors: Wake Smith, Matias Alberola, Jasper G Boers, et al.

Researchers find large-scale SAI deployments would likely be detected through existing satellite and aircraft monitoring long before producing significant climate impacts, making covert implementation unlikely.

Can climate geoengineering mitigate the rising threat of aviation turbulence? | Authors: Han-Chang Ko, Hye-Yeong Chun and Hyun-Kyu Lee

Study finds SAI could offset projected increases in aviation turbulence and potentially reduce turbulence below current levels, though uncertainties remain across models and scenarios.

Ideological divides around solar radiation modification geoengineering | Authors: Gareth Davies

Study suggests opposition to SRM is driven more by ideological commitments than by concerns over safety, governance, or moral hazard.

Legal Frameworks for Geoengineering: A Techno-Policy Perspective | Authors: Rini Adiyattil, S. Thangamayan, et al.

Paper finds existing international legal frameworks are ill-equipped to govern geoengineering, calling for integrated oversight that balances innovation, environmental protection, and climate justice.

Materials with smaller absorptivity could reduce detrimental impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection on the hydrological cycle | Authors: Manouk Geurts, Timofei Sukhodolov, et al.

Researchers report that less absorptive SAI materials such as alumina, calcite, and diamond dust could reduce precipitation and circulation disruptions compared with sulfur, though significant modeling uncertainties remain.

Impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection on extreme precipitation in Senegal, West Africa | Authors: Mamadou Ndiaye, Ibrahima Diba, et al.

Analysis suggests SAI could moderate projected changes in extreme rainfall across Senegal, though it should complement, not replace, emissions reductions and climate adaptation.

The expanding roles of Global South countries in solar radiation modification diplomacy: indicators, cases, and equitable pathways forward | Authors: Zachary Dove, María Inés Carabajal, et al.

Review finds Global South countries are playing an increasingly active role in shaping SRM research and governance, calling for greater funding and representation in decision-making.

Precipitation and circulation changes in the Indian summer monsoon region under stratospheric aerosol intervention in the GLENS simulations | Authors: Shinu Sheela Wilson and Govindasamy Bala

Modeling study suggests SAI could substantially alter the Indian summer monsoon, potentially reducing rainfall despite stabilizing global temperatures, though the findings require broader validation.

Impact of stratospheric aerosol injection on ocean surface circulation in the Gulf of Guinea | Authors: Yves W Pomalegni, Zacharie Sohou, Ezinvi Baloïtcha and Simone Tilmes

Modeling study suggests SAI could moderate climate-driven changes in Gulf of Guinea ocean circulation while introducing additional dynamical complexity and nonlinear ocean responses.

G6-1.5K-SAI and G6sulfur: changes in impacts and uncertainty depending on stratospheric aerosol injection strategy in the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project | Authors: Walker Raymond Lee, Daniele Visioni, et al.

Initial results from a new climate experiment suggest subtropical SAI could limit warming to around 1.5°C while improving Arctic cooling and reducing precipitation impacts compared with earlier deployment strategies.

Multi-model analysis of the impact of water vapor on the radiative forcing of volcanic aerosols after the 2022 Hunga Eruption | Authors: Ilaria Quaglia, Daniele Visioni, Ewa M. Bednarz, et al.

Multi-model analysis finds the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption produced a net cooling effect, driven primarily by sulfate aerosols despite its unprecedented water vapor injection.

Sulfur Exposure for Airplane Passengers From Stratospheric Aerosol Injection | Authors: Alan Robock, Alistair Duffey, et al.

Modeling study suggests high-latitude SAI could expose airline passengers to elevated sulfate aerosol concentrations, highlighting a potential aviation health risk requiring further study.

Highland Pathways Shape Global Dust Vertical Transport and Its Climate Effects | Authors: Yuzhi Liu, Qingzhe Zhu, Weiqi Tang, Dan Li

Study finds global highlands are major dust sources that could influence future solar radiation management strategies, but increased dust may also introduce atmospheric warming risks and climate trade-offs.

Climate intervention through stratospheric aerosol injection may partially mitigate marine heatwaves | Authors: Lala Kounta, Lifeng Luo, Gouri Anil, Daniel M Hueholt, et al.

Study finds SAI could reduce the intensity and duration of marine heatwaves compared with warming scenarios, but benefits remain uneven across ocean regions.

Solar Radiation and Climate Change Research: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis (1991–2025) | Authors: Ahmet Reha Botsalı

Bibliometric study finds rapid growth in solar radiation and climate research, with emerging focus areas including machine learning, climate modeling, heatwaves, and solar geoengineering.

Expert Perceptions of the Viability and Importance of Solar Geoengineering and Carbon Dioxide Removal in Addressing Climate Change: A Snapshot from India and the United States | Authors: Ben Kravitz, Landon Yoder, et al.

Interview study finds climate experts show greater support for CDR than solar geoengineering, with most favoring precautionary research before considering large-scale deployment.

Deployment Strategy Shapes the Polar Climate Response to Marine Cloud Brightening | Authors: E. J. Emme, C.-C. Chen, H. M. Horowitz

Modeling study finds seasonally targeted MCB deployment could improve polar sea ice recovery and temperature outcomes while reducing risks of major climate disruptions.

Modest Arctic-only stratospheric aerosol injection could reduce Arctic warming while holding interhemispheric temperature difference constant | Authors: Natalia Okanikova, Alistair Duffey, et al.

Study suggests Arctic-only SAI could reduce Arctic warming while stabilizing interhemispheric temperature differences, though impacts on tropical precipitation remain uncertain.

Ecological Humility and Geoengineering the Earth | Authors: C. Tyler DesRoches, Joan McGregor & Stylianos Syropoulos

Article argues ecological humility does not necessarily oppose geoengineering, suggesting responsible climate interventions could align with values of care, stewardship, and ecological flourishing.

Solar Geoengineering as a Status Symbol in International Politics | Authors: Joshua B. Horton

Paper suggests SAI could become a geopolitical status symbol, with visible deployments potentially driving competition, prestige races, and strategic power dynamics among nations.

Reframing sea-ice thickening as local adaptation, not climate intervention | Authors: Alistair Duffey, Robbie Mallett, Matthew Henry

Paper argues artificial Arctic sea-ice thickening is better considered a local adaptation measure, with limited potential to influence regional or global climate at scale.

Accelerated European Summer Warming Driven by Atmospheric Circulation Changes in Response to Aerosol Forcing | Authors: P. J. Roldán-Gómez, M. G. Donat, et al.

Study finds declining sulfate emissions have contributed to accelerated European summer warming by reducing aerosol cooling effects, with models previously underestimating the impact.

Does Global Justice Demand Solar Geoengineering? | Authors: Mac WillnersOrcid-ID, Orri Stefánsson

Paper critiques the Global Justice Argument for solar geoengineering research, arguing that it may represent compensation rather than restoration for climate injustices and faces ethical challenges.

Compensation of Ocean Latent Heat to Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Induced Cooling and Its Comparison to Volcanic Aerosols | Authors: Ya Gao, Lili Xia, Juan Wang, Chaochao Gao

Researchers finds sustained SAI weakens the ocean’s ability to buffer cooling compared with volcanic eruptions, highlighting limits of using eruptions like Tambora as analogues for geoengineering.

Atmospheric methane removal as a third climate intervention: termination risks and air pollutant effects | Authors: Katsumasa Tanaka, Weiwei Xiong, Didier A. Hauglustaine, et al.

Study examines atmospheric methane removal as a climate intervention approach, finding it can reduce warming with a slower rebound after termination than SRM, but benefits remain temporary due to methane’s short lifetime.

Geoengineering: Infrastructures for a Global Climate? | Authors: Simon Dalby

Paper highlights governance challenges for future CDR and SRM deployment, warning that weak international frameworks could either hinder cooperation or intensify geopolitical disputes over climate intervention.

Trade-Offs between Sulfuric Acid Aerosol Precursors for Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering | Authors: James Franke, Wake Smith, et al.

Analysis compares six sulfur compounds for SAI, finding alternatives such as H₂S and SO₃ could offer potential advantages over SO₂ but face challenges around safety, cost, and deployment feasibility.

What is this thing called “Governance”?

PREPRINTS

The Geoengineering Put: Ecological Debt, Termination Risk, and Asset Prices - Preprint | Authors: Kelly Shue, Samuel M. Hartzmark

Analysis proposes a macro-finance framework for geoengineering, suggesting SRM could act as climate damage insurance while creating ecological debt and long-term termination shock risks.

Impacts of Potential Solar Radiation Modification: Systematic Review Reveals Challenges and Opportunities - Preprint | Authors: Zachary Decker , Lisa Moore, Brian Buma, et al.

Systematic review finds SRM impact research remains dominated by uncertain climate modeling, with limited studies on human and ecosystem effects, highlighting the need for more diverse assessment approaches.

Cosmic Enframing and Atmospheric Capitalism: Toward a Critical Epistemology of Geoengineering and Climate Biopolitics in the Arab Zone of Risk - Preprint | Authors: Nadji Belkheiri

Article examines the philosophical and political implications of geoengineering, arguing that technologies like SAI, MCB, and OIF could deepen inequalities and require more democratic atmospheric governance.

A New Representation of Marine Stratocumulus Cloud Morphology Reveals Morphology-Dependent Variability in Cloud Susceptibilities - Preprint | Authors: Tom Goren, Goutam Choudhury, Graham Feingold

Study proposes a ternary framework for classifying marine stratocumulus clouds, showing that cloud morphology strongly influences responses to droplet changes and MCB effectiveness.

Deflective Sunshades: conceptual design and origami-inspired folding strategy - Preprint | Authors: Benedetta Marazzato, Jonas Seiler, et al.

Study proposes a deflective space-based SRM sunshade concept using inclined reflective surfaces to improve stability, scalability, and deployment efficiency.

A new Profiling Optical Particle Counter to study stratospheric aerosols - Preprint | Authors: Jean-Paul Vernier, Nicolas Dumelie, et al.

Researchers enhance a lightweight optical particle counter for balloon missions, enabling affordable measurements of stratospheric aerosols and supporting climate research, satellite validation, and SRM studies.

Geoengineering, moral hazard, and disrespect - Preprint | Authors: Alice Baderin, Maxime Lepoutre

Paper challenges the moral hazard objection to solar geoengineering research, arguing that restricting research may be unjustified without stronger evidence of reduced climate action.

Sunshades in Space Undertaking. A Cash-Flow-Contingent Framework for Financing a Global Public-Good Projects - Preprint | Authors: Christer Persson, Peder Jonsson, Lars Söderqvist, et al.

Proposal introduces the FiGo financing model for SiSU, a space-based solar radiation modification concept designed to support long-term sunshade development through independent governance and investment structures.

Multi-scenario Hydro-climatic Mean and Peak Responses of Central–South Asia and the Tibetan Plateau to Future Warming and Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention - Preprint | Authors: Azfar Hussain, Huizing Liu, Abolfazl Rezaei, et al.

Study finds SRM could reduce warming-driven hydroclimate changes across Central and South Asia, partially restoring water availability and cryosphere processes, but cannot fully offset regional water stress.

Marine Cloud Brightening and Precipitation Responses in the Tropical Pacific Ocean - Preprint | Authors: Dr. Pornampai Narenpitak, Siriwat Kongkulsiri, et al.

Modeling study finds Southeast and South Pacific MCB deployments produce the strongest cooling effects, while also triggering remote climate impacts through atmospheric teleconnections.

Temperature stabilization using Stratospheric Aerosol Injections minimises drying over Africa only when combined with a strong decarbonization effort - Preprint | Authors: Temitope S. Egbebiyi, Temitope S. Fafure, et al.

Modeling study finds SAI could reduce temperature extremes across Africa under overshoot scenarios, but precipitation responses remain uneven and cannot fully resolve regional water-cycle changes.

Transport Efficiency of Turbulent Parcel in the Marine Boundary Layer and Its Implications for Droplet Activation in Marine Cloud Brightening - Preprint | Authors: Pan Zhao, Jingyi Chen, Yang Yang, Yue Jia, and Yang Yu

Modeling study finds sea-salt aerosol transport to marine clouds is strongly influenced by cloud conditions and turbulence, improving understanding of key MCB feasibility constraints.

Impacts of Solar Radiation Modification on Extreme Climate Indices in the Philippines - Preprint | Authors: Patricia Ann Jaranilla Sanchez, Hanz Lester Cate Lunas, et al.

Study finds SRM could alter future temperature and rainfall extremes in the Philippines, with impacts varying across climate zones and scenarios.

WEB POSTS & REPORTS

Solar Geoengineering Updates - Monthly Solar Geoengineering Updates (May’2026)

LinkedIn - Science7 (S7), the national science academies of the G7, has weighed in on geoengineering in the Arctic with a recommendation

The Times - Why sunblock in the Earth’s atmosphere is no longer a crazy idea

Clare Farrell - In a week of extreme heat, can we talk about geo-engineering?

CFG - Why future generations need a seat at the table in the climate interventions discussion

DSG - Reading the Signals: Stardust and the Shape of an Emerging Field

Planetary Sunshade Foundation - Brussels Workshop on EU Governance of Solar Geoengineering

Federation of American Scientists - I Want to Talk About Solar Geoengineering and You Should Too!

Geopolitical Monitor - The Geopolitics of Geo-Engineering: Weather Warfare vs. Climate Security

New Scientist - Earth has a mysterious triple symmetry that may influence its climate

WBIW - Indiana Youth Tackle Climate Crisis With Ideas at Second Annual IU Geoengineering Summit

The Abstract M Surj - Cloudy skies could point to brighter days ahead

Silverlining - Engineering a Particle for the Stratosphere

Degrees Initiative - Next-level grants awarded to boost Global South SRM expertise

SRM Malaria Dashboard - Data driven solutions for a malaria free future

SRM360 - Two Conferences Highlight a Transatlantic Divide on SRM

ACIRhub - Africa’s Climate Future Demands a Voice in Global Geoengineering Debates

Kelly Wanser - Cooling the planet cheaply is not the primary challenge. Safety is

Russell Newman - How to Cool the Planet for $45 Billion

Peter Dynes - Before We Touch the Earth’s Thermostat, We Need to Understand Who Else Has a Hand on It

Phys.Org - Solar geoengineering could shield up to 75% of oceans from heat waves

SRM360 - Planes for SAI May Be Closer and Cheaper Than Previously Thought

Caliber - As climate crisis deepens, geoengineering emerges as next battleground

LinkedIn - Can Particles Added to the Stratosphere Be Effectively Removed?

Aether Symposium - Artificial Intelligence and Solar Radiation Management - A Legal Analysis of Governance Gaps in EU and International Law

RMetS - RMetS national meeting – deliberately cooling the planet. Could we? Should we? Would we?

Co-CREATE - A Recap of the Co-CREATE Forum

Daily Mail - Is this the key to preventing a Super El Niño? Scientists want to dim the SUN to shield the oceans from heatwaves

Legal Planet - Legislating Sunlight Reflection in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Guardian - ‘At first, the idea does sound crazy’: meet the scientists trying to refreeze the Arctic

MIT Technology Review - Hacking the atmosphere: Geoengineering gets a reality check

Harvard Center for International Development - Examining How Solar Geoengineering Changes Global Crop Outcomes: CID Faculty Research Insights

MIT Technology Review - Geoengineering still faces major practical challenges

The Guardian - ‘Termination shock’: trust our expert warnings on geoengineering’s planetary risks

The Degrees Initiative - Science-policy dialogue at PARLATINO anchors Latin American SRM discussions in regional evidence

Department of Meteorology - Frida Bender awarded Formas funding for research on climate intervention

ACIRhub - From Pinatubo to Policy: ACIRH Meets in Accra to Discuss Climate Intervention

DSG - SRM as a Tool for Climate Security: Competitive Framing and its (Geo)Political Implications

Green European Journal - A Feminist Approach to Solar Geoengineering

Inevitable & Obvious - Stabilization Needs a State That Works

MSU - Cooling strategy not a panacea for marine heat waves

ABC Net - Private companies want to geoengineer the sky. The rain billions of people depend on could be disrupted

CPG - Scientists Plan to Release Air Bubbles Underwater to Protect Antarctica’s “Doomsday Glacier” from Melting

C.F.G - What Europeans think about solar radiation modification

EPFL - The hidden atmospheric cost of Arctic shipping

SRM360 - What Do People in Bangladesh Think About SRM?

Jan Umsonst - A short on what it means to cool down a water planet...

Peter Dynes - The White Revolution That Could Help Cool the Planet

African Tech Futures Lab - Introducing the Climate Intervention Futures Initiative: Building Conceptual Infrastructure for a New Frontier of Climate Action

New Scientist - Geoengineering could expose plane passengers to sulphuric acid

Heartlander News - ‘Terrible idea’: Top Trump official reveals how tinkering with the sun could land companies in hot water

Energy Times - Can we cool the solar geoengineering debate?

Degrees Initiative - Latin American scientists lead SRM biodiversity workshop in Bogotá

SRM360 - Risk-Risk Analysis and SRM: Moving Beyond Misunderstanding

FP Analytics - Tackling the Existential Threat of Climate Change - Collective action to manage, mitigate, and reduce climate risk (Report)

Postdoctoral Position: Modeling Tropospheric and Stratospheric Volcanic Sulfate Aerosols Processes at The Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique and Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques | Greater Paris Metropolitan Region

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

“The Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique and Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques are seeking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher to work on modeling tropospheric and stratospheric volcanic sulfate aerosol processes.”

PhD in Climate Modelling: Modelling the injection of stratospheric aerosols and its impact on the climate of France

“The aim of this thesis will be to estimate and understand the effects of applying SAI-based climate intervention methods on France’s climate.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

08 July | Online - SRM Governance, Ethics & Africa’s Role in Global Decision-Making by Emerging Climate Frontiers

10 July | University of Cambridge, UK - Climate Repair: Can we Refreeze the Arctic? by Centre for Climate Repair

16 July | Online - Live Discussion: The History of Solar Geoengineering by SRM360

10-11 September | Washington, DC. - 2026 RFF and Harvard SRM Social Science Research Workshop

12-15 October | Malaysia - Global Tipping Points 2026 | Abstract Deadline: 15 May

7–11 December 2026 | San Francisco, CA - AGU26 Anuual Meeting | Abstract Submission Deadline: 05 August 2026

10-14 January 2027 | Denver, CO & Online | 19th Symposium on Aerosol–Cloud–Climate Interactions

08-09 April 2027 | United States - 2027 Solar Radiation Management Annual Meeting by Simons Foundation

Solar Geoengineering Events Calendar by Andrew Lockley

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PODCASTS

‎How conspiracy theories impact geoengineering efforts | How We Survive

“Across the country, anti-geoengineering bills are being proposed in state legislatures. These bills would ban the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting sunlight or weather, and could impact future research into stratospheric aerosol injection — or even cloud seeding.
But, unlike environmentalists that are advocating against the potential use of geoengineering as a climate solution, the bills’ proponents think that it’s already happening. Their proof? You can see it in the sky, they say: just look up.
In this episode of “How We Survive,” Amy Scott talks with producer Rachel Kahn about how a once-fringe conspiracy theory could impact the future of geoengineering.”

Inevitable & Obvious - A Sunshade For Earth, And Who Controls It — Ross Centers and Morgan Goodwin

‎”A planetary sunshade is one of those ideas that gets filed under science fiction and left there. A constellation of thin reflectors, parked at the gravitational balance point between the Earth and the Sun, shading the planet by a percent or so and buying us time on warming. The reason to take it seriously now is that the industrial base required to build one is the same base that SpaceX, NASA, and a handful of startups are already racing to stand up for entirely commercial reasons. Ross Centers and Morgan Goodwin of the Planetary Sunshade Institute have been working on this since before it was a field, and in this conversation we trace the whole path: from why even clean energy eventually hits a planetary limit, to how you’d manufacture forty-kilometer solar sails out of moon dust, to who would actually be in charge of the global thermostat once it exists.”

Bad Idea #57 “Hands off Mother Earth” with Anni Pokela | Saving the World From Bad Ideas

“In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with Anni Pokela of Operaatio Arktis about why “Hands off Mother Earth” is no longer a serious response to the climate crisis. The conversation explores how humans are already deeply entangled with planetary systems, whether through emissions, land use, or atmospheric pollution, and why the real question is no longer whether we intervene, but how we do so responsibly. From Arctic tipping points and AMOC collapse risks to solar radiation management, social license, indigenous engagement, and the politics of research, this is a probing discussion about climate intervention in a world where inaction is itself a form of intervention.”

The audacious plan to refreeze the Arctic | The Guardian - Science Weekly

“Sea ice is melting fast and worsening the climate crisis. But what if there were a way to thicken it again? Madeleine Finlay is joined by environment editor Damian Carrington to discuss a bold attempt to refreeze the Arctic which is showing early signs of success. He visited the project to find out how it will work, how much it will cost and whether it really has potential to improve the fate of the Arctic’s ice.”

Your geoengineering questions, answered! | How We Survive

“‎This season, we explored large-scale climate interventions that could be our last hope. One intervention in particular, solar geoengineering, made a lot of listeners’ heads spin. (We’re right there with you.)
This episode, we answer some of your most pressing questions about solar geoengineering. We get into whether solar sunshades could harm crops, what international efforts around solar geoengineering look like, and what would happen if a powerful country went rogue and put sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. Plus, we look at a solution to some of these more extreme solutions: decarbonizing.”

Inside the most sophisticated plan for solar geoengineering | Catalyst with Shayle Kann

“One of the biggest challenges with technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions is that they require mass adoption. Solar radiation management (or SRM) has the opposite problem.
By Stardust Solutions’ estimate, dispersing three million tons of reflective particles into the stratosphere could cool the planet by 1.5 degrees Celsius for the relatively small price of $30 billion; that’s less than the cost of a single hyperscale data center.
Despite concerns about such an endeavor, the company is building a proprietary particle injection system with the goal of being deployment-ready this decade. While Stardust says they won’t deploy without the explicit authorization of multiple governments, questions nonetheless remain around the safety and ethics of SRM.
In this episode, Shayle sits down with Yanai Yedvab, CEO and co-founder of Stardust, to unpack how the technology works, its potential risks, and when to deploy it.
Shayle and Yanai discuss topics like:
-Why Stardust is eschewing sulfur dioxide in favor of naturally occurring, biodegradable amorphous silica and calcite particles
-How Stardust’s technology incorporates real-time testing.
-Stardust’s commitment to only deploying under strict international regulation.
-How the company balances the risk that solar geoengineering will reduce the economic incentive to decarbonize heavy industries with the imperative of an immediate climate solution.
-Why Stardust structured itself as a private company rather than an academic or non-profit lab.”

Novel Solutions | How We Survive

“Talk to enough experts about geoengineering and the conversation eventually turns to termination shock. That’s the idea that if we were to start cooling the planet and then suddenly stop, the resulting “shock” of heat could be catastrophic. It’s also the title of a novel by bestselling sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson, who explores the science, politics, and unintended consequences of trying to engineer the earth’s climate.
In this episode, we sit down with Stephenson to talk about what sci-fi can teach us about real-world climate solutions. But first: a climate idea so ambitious it sounds like it came straight from the pages of science fiction.”

Plan C for Civilization: Film Screening and Panel | Columbia Business School

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

“Plan C for Civilization tackles the promise and peril of solar geoengineering with exclusive verite access to its protagonist David Keith and the SCoPEx project, as well as the rogue geoengineers of Make Sunsets. From Bangladesh to Nevada, solar geoengineering is emerging after more than 60 years in the shadows, and with it, a new chapter of the climate change saga. After the film screening, V. Faye McNeill (Chemical Engineering) and Gernot Wagner (Columbia Business School) had a discussion with the documentary filmmaker Ben Kalina (Mangrove Media LLC). This session was moderated by Vincent Sandow-Straesser, ’26CCS.”

Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium #25 (Dr. Timofei Sukhodolov & Prof. Brad Marston) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks

Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium #24 (Dr. Micheal Diamond) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks

Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium 23 (Dr Anna Lange) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks

International Law and Climate Interventions: Is there a there there? with Dan Bodansky in Cambridge | Centre for Climate Repair

“May we engineer the climate? Professor Bodansky is a leading authority on international environmental law generally, and global climate change law in particular. He has previously served as the Climate Change Coordinator and attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of State. His books, including “The Art and Craft of International Environmental Law”, and “International Climate Change Law” have received highly prestigious awards in the field of environmental governance.”

Live Discussion: How Should Solar Geoengineering Research Be Governed? | SRM360

Then vs now | Arctic Reflections

“What a difference a few months can make. The conditions in Qikiqtarjuaq now are a world away from what they were when we were out thickening the ice in February. As the temperatures rises, the melting snow produces melt-ponds, which eventually drain through the sea ice.”

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Weekly Solar Geoengineering Updates (29 June - 05 July 2026)

Andrew Lockley — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:53:50 GMT

JUMP TO SECTION

1. This Week’s Top SRM Updates
2. Research Papers
3. Web Posts
4. AGU26 SRM Sessions
5. Job Opportunities
6. Upcoming Events
7. Podcasts
8. YouTube Videos

THIS WEEK’S TOP SRM HIGHLIGHTS

Research Paper: Accelerated European Summer Warming Driven by Atmospheric Circulation Changes in Response to Aerosol Forcing (AGU)

Research Paper: On the detectability by uninvolved parties of covert stratospheric aerosol injection programs producing transboundary impacts (IOP Science)

Research Paper: Does Global Justice Demand Solar Geoengineering? (PDC )

Job Opportunity: Postdoctoral Position: Modeling Tropospheric and Stratospheric Volcanic Sulfate Aerosols Processes (The Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique)

Upcoming Event: SRM Governance, Ethics & Africa’s Role in Global Decision-Making (Emerging Climate Frontiers)

Podcast: Inside the most sophisticated plan for solar geoengineering (Catalyst with Shayle Kann)

YouTube Video: International Law and Climate Interventions: Is there a there there? with Dan Bodansky in Cambridge (Centre for Climate Repair)

Read on to unpack more updates:

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