The climate crisis is accelerating, and with it, the debate over radical interventions like solar geoengineering – the deliberate manipulation of sunlight to cool the planet. While proponents tout it as a potential emergency measure, critics warn of unknown risks and geopolitical instability. The central issue isn’t whether these technologies should be deployed, but rather who gets to decide, and on what basis. Currently, that conversation is happening largely in the global north, while the global south – which bears the brunt of climate change – remains largely excluded.
The Uneven Impacts of a Heated World
The global south is already experiencing the most severe consequences of rising temperatures: extreme heat, droughts, floods, and increasingly violent storms. These aren’t abstract threats; they directly undermine food security, public health, and economic development. If geoengineering is ever considered, its effects will be unevenly distributed. Some regions may benefit, others could face new problems like altered rainfall patterns or ecological damage. This is not a hypothetical concern – the legacy of colonial exploitation has shown that climate action designed for the global south, but without the global south, will only exacerbate existing injustices.
The Current Imbalance of Knowledge and Power
Currently, research into techniques like stratospheric aerosol injection (spraying reflective particles into the atmosphere) and marine cloud brightening (enhancing cloud reflectivity) is primarily funded and conducted in wealthier nations. Meanwhile, many governments in the global south haven’t even taken a public stance on these technologies. This creates a dangerous knowledge gap, leaving decision-making vulnerable to outside influence. The result is a risky silence that perpetuates existing power imbalances.
A Path Towards Equitable Engagement
The situation isn’t hopeless. Initiatives like The Degrees Initiative and the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency are beginning to fund scientists from the global south, but these efforts are dramatically under-resourced. What’s needed is a fundamental shift:
- Southern-led Research: Prioritizing public research conducted by institutions within the global south.
- South-South Collaboration: Building networks between universities and research centers across the southern hemisphere.
- Equitable Governance: Developing a global framework that ensures transparency, informed consent, and equitable representation.
Engagement, Not Endorsement
Inclusion doesn’t equal endorsement. Understanding the risks and potential benefits of solar geoengineering is crucial, regardless of whether it’s ultimately deployed. The goal is to empower the global south to participate in policy discussions, challenge decisions made elsewhere, and ensure that any future action aligns with local realities. Solar geoengineering is not a substitute for deeper solutions like reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels; at best, it’s a temporary measure with enormous risks.
Ignoring the debate won’t make it disappear. The only way to ensure any potential planetary intervention is just and responsible is to bring the global south into the conversation now. Climate justice demands transparency – and that includes ensuring that those most affected have a seat at the table.
