Statement on NASEM Report on Developing a Research Agenda and Examining Governance Approaches for Climate Intervention
Today, SilverLining issued the following statement on the release of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report on developing a research agenda and researching governance approaches for climate intervention strategies that reflect sunlight to cool Earth.
"The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's new report on reflecting sunlight lays out a robust research agenda for studying the risks and benefits of increasing the reflection of sunlight to reduce the impacts of climate change on people and natural systems while society reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It's a major step forward to have experts from many disciplines come together and endorse research in this field. As the report suggests, we will only be able to address the problem of a rapidly warming planet and the impacts on the world's most vulnerable communities with strong scientific information to support international cooperation and governance."
SilverLining Executive Director Kelly Wanser has played a leading role in advancing research and dialogue on options for addressing near-term climate risks for many years, and was active in support of NAS efforts to undertake this study. SilverLining applauds NASEM, the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC), and the study’s committee members for their hard work on this complex and important topic.
Advancing a research agenda for interventions to slow Earth's warming is critically important because climate impacts are projected to escalate in the next 30-40 years, a period in which no level of emissions reductions can significantly reduce warming. These impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, making research in this area an important aspect of climate justice. Weather and climate intervention activities are also emerging in various parts of the world, making the analysis of risks and scientific cooperation important for national and global security.
A great deal of research is needed to provide policymakers and society with the ability to assess the risks and benefits of reflecting sunlight to cool climate. The NASEM report takes an important step forward in outlining a framework to pursue this research, including critical elements such as interagency coordination and international scientific cooperation.
These findings come at a time when the Biden-Harris administration has already committed to aggressive action on climate and climate justice. As the administration pursues efforts to decarbonize, the research agenda proposed by the NAS report will complement its efforts by helping to explore an expanded range of options, including sunlight reflection strategies, that might help protect people and ecosystems from harm.
About SilverLining
SilverLining is a non-profit 501c(3) organization dedicated to ensuring a safe climate. Our mission is to prevent human suffering and sustain natural systems in the context of uncertain risks of near-term catastrophic climate change. To achieve this mission, SilverLining advances effective U.S. and international policy and drives improvements in capabilities for predicting climate and research in interventions to reduce warming. As part of these efforts, SilverLining engages with researchers, policymakers, philanthropists, advocates, technologists, and people from all walks of life.
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