Solar Radiation Modification: policy recommendations published#
Policy recommendations have been informed by an Evidence Review Report and literature reviews, with AE as lead academy and coordinated by Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub
.
Scientific Opinions by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors
and the European Group on Ethics have been published on 9th December. Their work has been informed by a SAPEA Evidence Review Report, compiled by a working group of 20 experts in the field and coordinated by AE Cardiff. A number of MAEs have been closely involved, including Professors Benjamin Sovacool MAE, who co-chaired the SAPEA Working Group on SRM, Barbara Prainsack MAE and Nils-Eric Sahlin MAE, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the EGE. The work was also supported by literature reviews conducted by AE Cardiff and the Cardiff University Library Service.
The Opinions and Evidence Review Report have been presented to Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, responsible for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth.
Professor Benjamin Sovacool MAE, Co-Chair of the SAPEA Working Group said:
“Solar radiation modification represents a true frontier for energy and climate policy research. These climate interventions could present grave risks if they are ever deployed, or come to be relied upon to protect critical habitats—coral reeds, Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, farmland key to food security—by lowering temperatures in a world of global warming. Our Evidence Review Report synthesises the vast evidence on these controversial options, with a wonderful inclusion of work in the social sciences, arts, and humanities.”
Professor Paolo Papale MAE, Chair of the Exact Sciences Class, who represented AE over the course of the work said:
“SRM is a highly relevant although controversial topic that all countries and the European Union are turning their attention to. The team of experts coordinated by the AE did an excellent job in providing an evidence-based report that presents the state of knowledge and which the EU can use for informed decision-making.”
Read Solar radiation modification – Scientific Advice Mechanism.
Find out more#
Cardiff Knowledge Hub are holding a series of webinars in collaboration with the Scientific Advice Mechanism. Each of the four webinars will discuss different aspects and perspectives on the controversial topic of Solar Radiation Modification. These are: (1) Strategy and Policy (2) Social Sciences (3) Technologies and Risks (4) Ethics.
Find out more and register.
