Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) Primer
Domestic and International Governance Efforts
Many researchers and policy experts advocate for implementing SRM governance structures before outdoor research or deployment takes place—both to avoid potential negative outcomes and to encourage positive outcomes such as collaboration and effective deployment. Governance might include:
- A clear definition of which SRM technologies are allowed and at which stage they are permitted (i.e., the research and development phase or the implementation phase);
- Inclusive engagement with international stakeholders and Indigenous communities;
- Transparency regarding what is known about the technology, who funds it, how it will be monitored, and what risk assessments have been completed; and
- International coordination and a global governance regime to set norms, provide regulatory oversight, share research findings, and resolve disputes regarding SAI and any other large-scale SRM technologies.60
For a list of proposed and adopted U.S. state-level legislation banning SRM, see the Appendix. A proposed global SRM nonuse treaty is also gaining attention among global scholars and policymakers.61 The nonuse treaty has received pushback from researchers advocating for more evidence-informed and inclusive approaches to SRM.62