Degrees welcomes the COC’s call for more SRM research in developing countries

September 14, 2023

The Degrees Initiative welcomes the Climate Overshoot Commission’s recommendations for more solar radiation modification (SRM) research in and led by developing countries, which is set out in its new report Reducing the Risks of Climate Overshoot.

These recommendations echo the mission of the Degrees Initiative, which has been changing the global environment in which SRM is evaluated since 2010 to put the Global South at the centre of the conversation.

The Degrees Initiative has funded SRM research since 2018 through the Degrees Modelling Fund. The Fund is the largest SRM research initiative in the world by number of scientists and the first international SRM modelling fund aimed exclusively at scientists in developing countries and emerging economies.

"It is great to see the Climate Overshoot Commission call for more SRM research in developing countries. Coming from such a collection of high-level figures, this is further evidence that SRM is moving up the climate policy agenda and that developing countries must be central to the conversation."

Andy Parker

CEO, The Degrees Initiative

"Support for the Global South to research climate and SRM impacts will foster international connections and improve knowledge transfers, enabling local scientists and policymakers to make wise and informed decisions."

Dr Pornampai (Ping-Ping) Narenpitak

DMF scientist - The National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand

“It is very important that those countries that suffer the most from climate change should lead the conversation about SRM. And they can't lead the conversation if they don't know what it's about.”

Dr Romaric Odoulami

DMF scientist - The African Climate and Development Initiative, South Africa

“We need to take a leading role in research on SRM so that we do not let other countries decide for us.”

Dr Casimir Da-Allada

DMF scientist - National University of Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Benin