The SilverLining Spotlight - August 30, 2023
Dear Friends,
With deadly landslides in India, floods in China, heat extremes from Morocco to Japan, tropical storms in California, and devastating fires in Maui, we appear to have entered a more dangerous and uncertain phase of climate change. In this context, new official publications from the US government and the European Commission have called for research and scientific assessment of approaches to reflecting sunlight from the atmosphere to cool climate, or “solar radiation modification” (SRM), a major shift for governments toward consideration of emergency medicine for climate. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to speak with CNN on the need for research and investment in critical areas of climate science and climate intervention.
Among the most critical considerations are the people in harm’s way in the most climate-vulnerable regions of the world. Their welfare is critical to solve for, and their input is essential to the course of action we take. I had the honor of discussing this, in the context of India and Indian science, in a recent TEDTalk in Mumbai that will be released soon. In the coming months, SilverLining will be working on a variety of international efforts to advance equitable and effective research and decision-making. We hope you will follow our efforts and join us where you can.
Best Regards,
Kelly Wanser
Executive Director, SilverLining
CNN Documentary Featuring Kelly Wanser
Kelly Wanser was featured on CNN’s Earth Day Broadcast, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, joining Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir for an interview by the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Kelly discusses why climate intervention research is so critical and says: “The bulk of the research that’s needed is science. And it functions more like a medical problem. This is a complex organic system that we’re in: that combines physics, biology, and chemistry. You’ve got heat stress on the system and you might need some emergency medicine for a while.” Listen to the full audio podcast. Watch the video segment.
TED Gateway Summit, Mumbai, India
With what is soon to be the world’s largest population, India is also among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. India is also a global source of technology and leadership talent. In a brief but powerful talk, Kelly Wanser describes what’s needed in climate intervention research, and how, given its early contributions to the field, India stands to gain by working with other countries on research, and the world stands to gain too. Stay tuned to watch the talk.
White House Report on Climate Intervention Research
A report recently released by US government science agencies under bi-partisan direction from Congress recommended research on the potential for solar radiation modification approaches to reduce near-term climate risks. SilverLining prepared a two-page summary unpacking the key elements of the report if you are interested in learning more and an op-ed in The Hill describes what the report means for climate intervention research.
Cooling Credits: Buyers Beware
As people around the world experience escalating climate impacts, some are attempting to market credits for releasing quantities of aerosols to reflect sunlight, or “cooling credits” as a solution to climate change. But buyers (and everyone) should beware, according to a new analysis featured in an academic paper that Kelly Wanser co-authored with leading scientists Michael Diamond and Olivier Bouchet in the Climatic Change journal. A new blog post from Kelly in Illuminem unpacks the paper’s findings on the fundamental problems of cooling credits in simple terms.
Bonn Climate Conference and Bangkok Montreal Protocol Meeting
In June, SilverLining participated in the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference. Alongside its work in the committees, the SilverLining team hosted a well-received reception, providing an open platform for dialogue and collaboration on the need for climate intervention research to stakeholders from civil society, youth leaders, representatives from UN agencies, and country negotiators from around the globe.
In July, SilverLining's Director of International Strategy, Nico Esguerra, and International Strategy Fellow, Lydia Dai, attended the Montreal Protocol meeting in Bangkok, where they engaged with delegates on scientific assessment of SRM and aerosols in the stratosphere. Countries’ positive responses to the Scientific Assessment Panel’s recent assessment of solar radiation modification highlighted the growing interest in climate intervention research in the context of protecting our planet's ozone layer. SilverLining applauds this ongoing assessment work and believes that such collaborative efforts are crucial for the equitable decision-making needed to effectively address imminent climate risks.
Upcoming Events
30 Aug - 1 Sept: Arctic Momentum, Helsinki - A convening of science, policy, indigenous and youth stakeholders in a series of events on climate intervention in the Arctic that includes a workshop and public engagement in Helsinki, convened by youth-led organization Operatioo Arktis in conjunction with SilverLining’s Global Young Leaders Initiative (GYLI).
18 - 23 Sept: New York Climate Week, New York - SilverLining will host a dialogue and reception on an effort to establish a much-needed intergovernmental fund for climate impacts research in developing countries (Sept 20) and an intergenerational dialogue on climate intervention hosted by GYLI (Sept 18). Contact us for more information.
23 - 27 Oct: World Climate Research Programme Open Science Conference, Kigali - SilverLining will host a workshop on using the CESM climate model on the cloud and a Town Hall event on solar radiation modification including new studies by global researchers and discussion of new WCRP lighthouse programme on climate intervention.
23 - 27 Oct: Montreal Protocol Meeting of the Parties (MOP38), Nairobi - SilverLining will join the annual meeting in support of advancing the work of the Scientific Assessment Panel on analysis and projection of the impacts of aerosols on the stratosphere.
23 - 27 Oct: Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week, Panama City - SilverLining will host a panel and dialogue on solar radiation modification and considerations for research and decision-making in Latin America and the Caribbean.
30 Nov - 12 Dec: 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Dubai - SilverLining will convene a series of panels, a youth event and reception at COP28.
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