Today the Degrees Initiative announces groundbreaking new funding for nine research teams based in the Global South to study the socio-political implications of solar radiation modification (SRM).
These new projects—across Africa, Asia and the Americas—mark the beginning of the first SRM research programme aimed exclusively at social scientists in developing countries.
Researchers will explore a range of topics and how they relate to SRM including economics, ethics, health justice, public perception, and governance.
The new grants under Degrees’ Socio-Political Fund follow in the footsteps of the Degrees Modelling Fund, which has been changing the face of SRM research since 2018. It has awarded around $2 million to over 150 scientists in 22 Global South countries as they model how SRM could affect their regions. These scientists have gone on to become experts in the field, publishing groundbreaking research, serving on UN expert panels, and leading regional conversations on the potential and the risks of SRM.
Now the Degrees Initiative hopes to do the same for social sciences. Many observers believe that the social, political, and ethical dimensions of SRM could prove even more challenging than the physical ones. Who gets to decide if SRM is used or rejected? What ethical considerations should guide research and its governance? How do the socio-political impacts of further warming compare to those of SRM? Over the next few years, Degrees will support teams from around the world as they delve into these questions and take their place at the heart of the global conversation.
The world’s most climate-vulnerable regions have the most to gain or to lose from SRM. The new social science research projects will help stakeholders better understand the risks of implementing or rejecting SRM. This in turn will nudge the world towards more equitable and informed evaluation of the options for addressing climate change.
Dr. Lorena Sabino, the principal investigator (PI) for the Philippines team said, “This funding will enable us to continue climate change research and to collaborate with local communities and stakeholders, ensuring that the research is grounded in real-world experiences and needs. Social science research in SRM is so important as it can bring critical perspectives to addressing ethical, social, and governance issues. Including the Global South in this ensures that their perspectives and needs are considered, promoting equity and justice in global climate policy.”
Dr Mauricio Uriona Maldonado, PI for one of the Brazil projects, said: “The Degrees Initiative’s funding will enable the first multi-country study (Brazil, India and South Africa) into SRM using systems thinking in the Global South. It will support our efforts to better understand perceptions and beliefs about SRM and help develop improved understandings, ensuring the Global South can take a more active role in discussions.”
Dr Francisco Estrada Porrúa, PI for the Mexico project said, “Enhancing climate change research, including the area of SRM, is imperative for the Global South. It’s essential for these regions to develop a thorough understanding of the risks associated with climate change and to assess the potential impacts of interventions aimed at reducing global warming. Developing robust scientific and socio-environmental knowledge is crucial. Our project aims to evaluate both the risks and economic impacts of climate change in Latin America, as well as the potential consequences of global solar SRM interventions.”
Dr Portia Adade Williams, PI for the Ghana project said, “Substantial knowledge gaps with respect to governance, ethical and social implications of SRM exist so I am excited that I will be leading a research team to explore such gaps. We will be creating evidence and national guidance towards streamlining knowledge, governance systems and social implications of SRM to expand the contribution of local perspectives from Ghana into conversations globally”.
Andy Parker, founder and CEO of the Degrees Initiative said: “If the world is going to make informed and equitable decisions about SRM, developing countries need to do their own research and make their own minds up. We are proud to support these new teams as they transform socio-political research into SRM.”