Co-Create Launch
An European consortium to research the governance of controversial Solar Radiation Modification technologies
Over the next three years, a group of European researchers will examine whether, and under what conditions, Solar Radiation Modification research should occur. This contentious set of technologies might help tackle the climate crisis yet comes with additional risks.
Today, a group of European institutions, led by Perspectives Climate Research, announced the launch of Co-CREATE – a European Union funded project focused on the governance of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) research. If ever used, SRM technologies would aim to limit global warming by reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface – reflecting sunlight or increasing how much heat escapes back into space. One example of SRM is Stratospheric Aerosol Injection which involves releasing reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to increase the reflection of sunlight back into space.
Views on SRM research are diverse, and conversations can be contentious. Some are concerned that research and development of SRM would distract from vital efforts to reduce emissions. Others view SRM as a potential opportunity to limit heating, avoid dangerous ecological tipping points, and protect humanity from the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Many remain undecided, but see a need to study risks, uncertainties and potential benefits.
The Co-CREATE Consortium will examine principles and guidelines for a possible governance framework for responsible SRM research. This project engages with diverse stakeholders and rightsholders, including marginalised and affected communities, such as indigenous peoples in the Arctic and communities in the Global South. This collaborative approach will anchor project results in a diversity of voices, cultural contexts, and value-systems, reflecting the grappling of society with this complex and contentious issue.
Radiative forcing geoengineering techniques aim to modify the atmosphere-surface radiative energy budget in order to partly counteract global warming, by two distinct approaches: increasing the amount of solar shortwave radiation (yellow arrows) that is reflected back to space (techniques 8, 9, 11, and 12), or increasing the amount of terrestrial longwave radiation which escapes to space (technique 10). The focus of this class of techniques is on inducing a negative radiative forcing (i.e., cooling). From: Evaluating climate geoengineering proposals in the context of the Paris Agreement temperature goals
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The Co-CREATE project is implemented by a European consortium led by Perspectives Climate Research based in Germany. The consortium includes 13 research groups from Finland, Germany, the UK, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Poland.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement 10113764 and by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon European funding guarantee (No. 10123643). Further information can be found on the Co-CREATE Website.
