The Solar Geoengineering Ecosystem: Key Actors Across the Landscape of the Field
Open accessAbstract
As individuals and organizations start to engage in and learn about solar geoengineering (also known as solar radiation modification - SRM), it is challenging to know where to start. This report, a collaborative effort between The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering and the Forum on Climate Engineering Assessment, aims to provide an assessment of the SRM field across different sectors, institutions, and geographies. We hope this can provide a useful foundation for understanding where the SRM ecosystem is and how it might evolve. Recognizing that we cannot hope to capture every actor or activity, we hope to update this report periodically with major updates.
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These private initiatives are characterized by limited transparency and minimal independent oversight.
“These initiatives, characterized by limited transparency and minimal independent oversight”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
The UK's SPICE project (2011) marked the first cancellation of a planned SAI experiment after public concerns and governance disputes arose over undisclosed patents held by involved scientists.
“The UK's SPICE project (2011) marked the first cancellation of a planned SAI experiment after public concerns and governance disputes arose over undisclosed patents held by involved scientists”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
The UoW halt marked the first instance of municipal intervention to halt an MCB experiment.
“marking the first instance of municipal intervention to halt an MCB experiment”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
In 2024, a U.S. MCB trial by the University of Washington aimed at optimizing aerosol plumes was halted following public backlash over transparency concerns.
“In 2024, a U.S. MCB trial by the University of Washington aimed at optimizing aerosol plumes (Wood et al., 2024) was halted following public backlash over transparency concerns”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
The SPICE cancellation highlighted conflicts of interest in early SRM governance.
“highlighting conflicts of interest in early SRM governance”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
The Israeli-U.S. company Stardust Solutions conducted preliminary hardware test flights for aerosol dispersal in 2024.
“the Israeli-U.S. company Stardust Solutions conducted preliminary hardware test flights for aerosol dispersal in 2024”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
Since 2021, private ventures and non-academic groups for SRM field activities have proliferated, targeting SAI feasibility through unregulated atmospheric releases of SO2.
“Since 2021, private ventures and non-academic groups for SRM field activities have proliferated, targeting SAI feasibility through unregulated atmospheric releases of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ).”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
In 2021, the UK-based SATAN initiative and the U.S. startup Make Sunsets initiated small-scale SAI field activities involving SO2 releases.
“In 2021, the UK-based Stratospheric Aerosol Transport and Nucleation (SATAN) initiative and the U.S. startup Make Sunsets initiated small-scale SAI field activities involving SO 2 releases”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
SATAN and Make Sunsets neither disclosed detailed environmental monitoring protocols.
“neither disclosed detailed environmental monitoring protocols”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
SATAN and Make Sunsets lack scientific transparency and detail in their experimental methodologies.
“they lack scientific transparency and detail in their experimental methodologies”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
Stardust Solutions' technical specifications and peer-reviewed data remain undisclosed, hindering scientific evaluation.
“technical specifications and peerreviewed data remain undisclosed, hindering scientific evaluation”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
Despite a city-commissioned expert assessment confirming no measurable health or environmental risks, the Alameda City Council unanimously halted the experiment due to concerns raised by NGOs, citizens, and council members about transparency and environmental and health risks.
“Despite a city-commissioned expert assessment confirming no measurable health or environmental risks, the Alameda City Council unanimously halted the experiment due to concerns raised by NGOs, citizens, and council members about transparency and environmental and health risks (Burns & Talati, 2025; Wood et al., 2024)”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
The UoW-led project using the CARI spray system faced significant criticism upon aerosol release trials on a decommissioned aircraft carrier in Alameda, California.
“the UoW-led project using the CARI spray system faced significant criticism upon aerosol release trials on a decommissioned aircraft carrier in Alameda, California”
From Past Field Experiments of Solar Radiation Modification: A Review of the Scientific and Technical Aspects for Governance (2026) · cites this paper as Burns & Talati, 2025
No citation lists for this paper
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Cited by 2
- Authors
- Burns, W. C. G., & Talati, S.
- Venue
- SSRN Electronic Journal
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025
- ISSN
- 1556-5068 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4407872175
- Cited by
- 2
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate Change and Geoengineering
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space exploration and regulation
- Keywords
- solar geoengineering, geoengineering, stakeholders, research institutions, international cooperation, geoengineering governance
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