Weekly Solar Geoengineering Updates (28 April - 04 May 2025)
Your weekly roundup of SRM updates from past week
1. This Week’s Top SRM Highlights
2. Research Papers
3. Web Posts
4. Request for Proposals
5. Upcoming Events
6. Podcasts
7. YouTube Videos
RESEARCH PAPER: Projected sea level rise in Thailand: Regional effects of climate change and solar radiation modification based on observations and the GeoMIP6 (Elementa Science of the Anthropocene)
WEB ARTICLE: The Politics of Geoengineering Are Getting Stranger (Legal Planet)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Impacts and Tradeoffs of Simulated High-Latitude/Low-Altitude SAI Deployment | Submission Deadline: 09 June 2025 (Reflective)
UPCOMING EVENT: Can We Afford to Ignore Solar Geoengineering? (The Transition Accelerator)
PODCAST: SRM, US & China - Nielsen (Reviewer 2 does geoengineering)
VIDEO: Co-CREATE Seminar: The Precautionary Principle (Climate Strategies)
Read on to unpack more updates:
Authors: Pornampai Narenpitak, Saifhon Tomkratoke, Sirod Sirisup, Siriwat Kongkulsiri
Synopsis: Sea level rise (SLR) in Thailand is projected to accelerate with climate warming. This study compares local observations with outputs from three climate models under emissions and solar geoengineering (SRM) scenarios. SRM reduces SLR, with G6Sulfur being slightly more effective than G6Solar. Seasonal SLR, linked to monsoons, remains stable but worsens coastal impacts. Uncertainties stem from land motion, data coverage, and model variability. Model–observation agreement is generally strong.
Comparing the Effects of Information on Geoengineering Options Support Across Four Online Samples
Authors: Frederic Traylor, Steven Brechin, Rachael Shwom
Synopsis: This study tested how different levels of information affect public support for geoengineering across various survey samples. Respondents learned about five methods, from space mirrors to afforestation. Results were consistent across address-based, opt-in, and classroom samples, but MTurk responses were unreliable despite filters. Findings suggest prior study differences likely stem from sample quality, not just information provided.
Could the chemical industry mitigate rapid global cooling from a catastrophic volcanic eruption?
Authors: David S. Sholl
Synopsis: A major volcanic eruption this century has a ~1-in-6 chance, potentially causing years of global cooling and severe agricultural impacts. This study explores whether deliberate release of short-lived greenhouse gases could offset such cooling. While technically feasible, it would require gigatons of chemicals, vast production/storage, and massive costs. Significant logistical and scientific uncertainties limit practicality of this approach.
The Limits of Prohibition in SRM Governance: A Response to the UBA Report on SRM (DSG)
Solar geoengineering is possible with existing aircraft, study says (E&E News by Politico)
The Politics of Geoengineering Are Getting Stranger (Legal Planet)
Florida House approves bill barring weather modification, geoengineering, heads to governor (Florida's Voice)
Students take the lead at Indiana’s first-ever Geoengineering Summit (Indiana Polis Recorder)
Councillor demands Powys exclusion from geoengineering trials (Brecon & Radnor Express)
Shading the truth & dimming the sun—Why the UK government is right to investigate geo-engineering (Incautious Optimism)
Impacts and Tradeoffs of Simulated High-Latitude/Low-Altitude SAI Deployment by Reflective | Submission Deadline for Expression of Interest: 21 May 2025 ; Submission Deadline for Proposals: 09 June 2025 (Reflective)
The 2025 Degrees Global Forum | 12-16 May 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
Fifteenth GeoMIP Workshop by NSF and Quadrature Climate Foundation | 12-16 May, 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
Documentary screening: Plan C for Civilization at Degrees 2025 Global Forum on SRM | 13 May 2025 | Cape Town
Consultative Workshop and Science-Policy Dialogue on Solar Radiation Modification by UNEP | 19-20 May 2025 | Switzerland
(NEW) Can We Afford to Ignore Solar Geoengineering? by The Transition Accelerator | 10 June 2025 | Online
Artic Repair Conference 2025 by University of Cambridge & Center for Climate Repair | 26-28 June 2025 | Cambridge UK
2025 RFF and Harvard SRM Social Science Research Workshop: Governance in a Fractured World | 04-05 September 2025 | Washington DC
11th WMO Scientific Conference on Weather Modification | 3-7 November 2025 | Pune, India
SRM, US & China - Nielsen | Reviewer 2 does geoengineering
"Jeffrey Nielsen and @geoengineering1 discuss how the strategic relationship between the US and China will interact with SRM. Paper: Jeffrey Nielsen, The big green button: stratospheric aerosol injection as a geopolitical dilemma during strategic competition between the United States and China, and implications for expanding aerosol injection near-term research, Oxford Open Climate Change, Volume 5, Issue 1, 2025, kgaf009, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfclm/kgaf009"
Co-CREATE Seminar: The Precautionary Principle | Climate Strategies
"To date, there are no international or EU laws specific to the governance of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) research. However, many existing legal frameworks and principles may apply to SRM research activities. Analysing these in the context of SRM is necessary to understand whether—and under which circumstances—different types of SRM research activities may be permissible or desirable.
Contributing to this question, the EU-funded Co-CREATE Project is hosting a public seminar on SRM research and the precautionary principle. It will draw on its work on this matter and invite two environmental law and policy experts in the field to share their reflections. An open discussion will follow, during which attendees will be welcome to exchange insights and help advance the debate on this matter."
"Chemtrails" are an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that's existed for decades, despite being consistently debunked by scientists. But with several US states looking to ban geoengineering, this conspiracy theory has escalated its way into actual US legislation that could result in real-life laws. The US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has endorsed the non-existent chemtrails, even blaming them on a particular US government agency. Vedika Bahl explains in Truth or Fake."
“The idea of using this kind of technology is not to go back to the climate we used to have, for example, 40 or 50 years ago. But it means that in a way, we will create a new climate. And this is why we really need to address the potential benefits and risks… maybe there could be some unintended risks that we really need to identify to help inform decision-making and governance around this kind of technology.”
In celebration of Earth Day, we were honored to host climate scientist Dr. Inés Camilloni, Professor at the University of Buenos Aires and recipient of CID’s GEM Incubation Fund, for a powerful discussion on the future of climate action. Moderated by Professor Joseph Aldy (HKS), Dr. Camilloni shared groundbreaking research on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) and its potential role in reducing extreme temperatures and flood risks in Buenos Aires, a Latin American megacity facing growing climate vulnerability. Drawing on climate modeling and local risk analysis, she highlighted the urgent need for inclusive, globally-informed strategies that center data equity and local resilience."
A realistic climate strategy | Healthy Planet Action Coalition
Follow us on:
Twitter | Bluesky | YouTube | Substack | Google Group | Podcast 1 | Podcast 2
Support us here: