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Over the past two decades, Global North actors have dominated the field of solar radiation modification. It is time for African leaders to develop a nuanced understanding of these early-stage technologies to shape their development and governance, while also ensuring that they do not derail effective climate action.
CAPE TOWN/WASHINGTON, DC – As climate disasters proliferate and intensify, interest has grown in solar radiation modification (SRM), a group of large-scale interventions to lower global temperatures by increasing the amount of sunlight reflected away from Earth. To be clear, the risks and benefits of SRM remain uncertain. But that is all the more reason to design a thoughtful policy approach to these emerging – and controversial – geoengineering technologies.
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This is particularly true in Africa, where SRM efforts could have potentially major economic and social implications and divert attention or funding from other urgent priorities such as expanding energy access and supporting a just transition. The continent’s policymakers and academics must therefore ensure that discussions about SRM in Africa are guided by a set of principles that emphasize transparency and informed decision-making, and shed light on the biases, power dynamics, and governance gaps surrounding this potential tool.
SRM research is still in its infancy, focused mostly on modeling and small-scale experiments. The most studied option is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which involves releasing large amounts of sulfur particles into the upper layer of the atmosphere. The natural analogue of this process – a volcanic eruption – has been shown to decrease temperatures. But the possible environmental and socioeconomic risks associated with SAI, including its effects on everything from precipitation to human health, are not well understood.
Given such uncertainty, African leaders must push for a transparent and equitable approach to researching and governing SRM. For starters, that means recognizing the asymmetrical power dynamic between those funding research in this area and those working to increase oversight of it. This gap will only widen if governments, NGOs, and philanthropic organizations do not start to engage with the fact that private-sector entities are starting to develop SRM. Without a full understanding of the technology’s implications, public authorities will not be prepared to establish clear rules for its potential testing and deployment. This could lead to climate-vulnerable countries and communities being sidelined and bearing the brunt of any adverse consequences.
To some extent, this is already happening. Over the past two decades, Global North actors – both proponents and opponents of SRM – have dominated the field. Efforts to pursue new research in Global South countries and seek their policy perspectives are encouraging, but remain insufficient. To move beyond colonial forms of engagement, it is essential to facilitate knowledge-sharing, rather than to push for predetermined outcomes. Global South countries can and should forge a responsible path forward for SRM governance, while ensuring that mitigation and adaptation remain a high priority for global climate policy.
African governments are acutely aware of the difficulty of balancing climate-related investment and economic development. Trapped in a cycle of debt distress, many are struggling to restore fiscal stability, finance counter-cyclical measures to put their economies on a more sustainable trajectory, and adapt to the growing climate threat. A key concern for African stakeholders is that there are still more questions than answers about the consequences of SRM – raising questions about whether its effects will ultimately be more helpful or harmful. At the same time, it may well divert resources from other investments that are more likely to drive long-term economic growth and development.
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A series of dialogues organized by the African Climate Foundation and the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering came to many of the same conclusions, including that SRM must not exacerbate inequalities and undermine climate action, and should be governed accordingly. The meetings also highlighted the need for better information-sharing and capacity-building in African governments, civil society, and academia when it comes to SRM, as many of the continent’s leaders do not know enough about these technologies.
Developing an effective climate strategy – from accelerating the uptake of renewables to decarbonizing industry and responsibly exploring controversial technologies like SRM – requires in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand. Multistakeholder dialogue and grassroots engagement – essential components of any geoengineering strategy – require it. Rather than simply arguing for or against SRM, these efforts should focus on collecting diverse perspectives and obtaining local input by increasing transparency, debating potential risks, and emphasizing that no single technology is a panacea.
While African countries undoubtedly have more immediate concerns than SRM, the continent’s policymakers and stakeholders must become better prepared to engage with this rapidly evolving field. The design and governance of SRM will play an important part in determining its impact, and developing a nuanced understanding of these early-stage technologies across Africa can help guide long-term decision-making. As global warming accelerates, engaging with SRM at the regional, national, and local levels will be crucial to creating an inclusive, transparent, and accountable solar-geoengineering ecosystem on the continent.
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