A number of people have contacted me about solar radiation modification (SRM).
Proposed SRM technologies would reflect some of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth back into space. This could include adding aerosol particles into the atmosphere to reflect the Sun’s rays or spraying sea water to increase the reflectivity of clouds over the ocean. It is important to note that SRM technologies are speculative and not currently deployed on a large scale.
I understand that the Government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has proposed a research programme that would include small, controlled, outdoor experiments where necessary to determine whether SRM technologies could be feasible to reduce global temperatures. ARIA has stated that they would not fund experiments where the activities proposed are prohibited by UK or international law and would perform an independent risk assessment made publicly available before any outdoor experiment.
The previous Government made clear its position that it would not deploy SRM and had no plans to do so, while still funding research to learn more about the effects of SRM on the climate. I understand that the Government has previously stated this is also their position and that it would only fund small-scale demonstration projects. I shall continue to watch this matter closely for any further developments.
