Policy

  • COP 27

Advancing science-based decision-making for a safe and secure Earth System.

Meteorological extremes are causing unprecedented displacement, economic insecurity, and loss of life in many parts of the world, shining a light on the urgency of better information and options to ensure the safety of the people and ecosystems at risk.

Humanity’s most successful environmental protection efforts are those most effective at using science and evidence to guide decision-making to promote safety. SilverLining supports policies that advance science-based governance alongside participation in research and decision-making on near-term climate responses.

United States

U.S. federal science agencies provide the primary scientific support for many international environmental agreements and Earth system monitoring programs. As a result, U.S. research investments play a central role in supporting international governance regimes and open science.

SilverLining promotes U.S. investment in improving capabilities for observing, predicting, and managing the Earth system, including risks of meteorological extremes and early warning of abrupt changes in natural systems. In that context, SilverLining endorses a U.S. national research effort in near-term Earth system risks and possible responses designed to support scientific assessment of the risks and impacts of sunlight reflection and projected warming within five years.

  • SilverLining Public Comment on Petition for Rulemaking Regarding Maintaining Records and Submitting Reports on Weather Modification Activities

    SilverLining Public Comment, Nov. 2024

    Click Here

  • Congressionally Mandated Report on Solar Radiation Modification

    Report, Jun. 2023

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  • A Roadmap for Research & International Cooperation

    SilverLining Report, Feb. 2023

    View

  • National Imperative for SCI Research & Earth System Prediction

    SilverLining Report, Apr. 2019

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  • SilverLining: Near-Term Imperatives for Comprehensive Climate Policy

    Report, Dec. 2020

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International

Growing threats to Earth system safety and security have increased interest in the potential for sunlight reflection to reduce near-term Earth system risks.

Still, the international community currently lacks critical scientific information needed to make informed decisions. Multiple international scientific assessment and research coordination bodies are well-positioned to play a role in informing and/or assessing near-term Earth system risks and possible responses to fill these information gaps. SilverLining is working to address these issues and support research globally.

  • Issue Brief with Atlantic Council: Accelerating Earth System Intervention Research to Improve Global Security

    Issue Brief with Atlantic Council, Oct. 2024

    Click Here

  • One Atmosphere: An Independent Expert Review on Solar Radiation Modification Research and Deployment

    United Nations Environment Programme Report, Feb. 2023

    Click Here

  • Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2022

    WMO Report, Oct. 2022

    Click Here

  • C2ES: SCI: Options for International Assessment & Decision-Making

    Sue Biniaz & Dan Bodansky, Publication, Jul. 2020

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  • C2ES: The Case for Research

    Sue Biniaz & Dan Bodansky, Publication, Oct. 2020

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  • The World Climate Research Programme launches a Lighthouse Activity on Climate Intervention Research.

    Webpage, Feb. 2024

    Click Here

  • Report of the COMEST on the Ethics of Climate Engineering

    UNESCO Report, Nov. 2023

    Click Here

  • COP27 UN Climate Champions: Repairing our World to Avoid Runaway Climate Change

    Video [89 mins], Nov. 2022

    View

  • SilverLining @ COP27: Models for Reducing Risk: Oceans, Vulnerability, and Climate Solutions

    Video [62 mins], Nov. 2022

    View

  • The Growing Risk of Climate "Tipping Points": Scientific Evidence and Policy Responses

    Video [63 mins], Aug. 2022

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“[Sunlight reflection] can reduce potential flooding risks and extreme rainfall events for cities that are vulnerable.”
 

Yuchen Gu, Gu (MSci)
Researcher, University College London, and University of Exeter

 
“There is a general deficit in research funding and technology access in the global south, particularly in the most vulnerable parts of the world.”
 

Kelly Wanser
Executive Director, SilverLining

 
“Warming temperatures make adaptation more difficult, with increasing intensity and frequency of extreme events.”
 

Jim W. Hurrel
Professor and Scott Presidential Chair in Environmental Science and Engineering, Colorado State University

 
“How can we work together to ensure that young people, in the south, can have equal access to knowledge and information on [sunlight reflection]?”
 

Joshua Amponsem
Founder, Green Africa Youth Organization