It is dangerous to normalize solar geoengineering research

We disagree with your view that research into solar geoengineering as a means to cool the planet should be given “a chance” (Nature 593, 167; 2021).

Your position aligns with those who seek to validate such research as a potential climate-policy option (see go.nature.com/3jfqrbr). However, much climate-governance scholarship opposes these untested technologies as a dangerous distraction from decarbonization policies.

Many social scientists argue that democratic and fair global governance of solar geoengineering is unattainable. Any future use of the approach would require complex decisions at a planetary scale on where, how and for how long it would be deployed, and on who would take responsibility for any harm caused.

In our view, the current world order is unfit to devise and implement such far-reaching agreements on planetary management. In the absence of effective global control, the geopolitics of solar geoengineering would be complex and frightening.

We call on our governments and funding agencies to halt the normalization of research into planetary solar-geoengineering technologies. Decarbonization of our economies is feasible if the right steps are taken. Solar geoengineering is neither necessary nor desirable. A global moratorium is needed.

A full list of co-signatories to this letter appears in Supplementary Information.