On February 24, 2026, a coalition of international scientific, policy, and civil society organizations unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing the governance of solar geoengineering research. The initiative, known as the Solar Geoengineering Research Governance (SGRG) Platform, seeks to establish clear guidelines and ensure public accountability as interest in solar geoengineering rises.
The SGRG Platform will provide voluntary tools for research institutions to demonstrate transparency in decision-making processes, risk management, and addressing public concerns. This effort is the result of collaboration among a diverse group of organizations, including the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), with additional partners expected to join as the initiative progresses.
Addressing Governance Gaps in Rapidly Evolving Research
As solar geoengineering technologies develop swiftly, they face increasing scrutiny from policymakers and the public. Shuchi Talati, Executive Director at the Democracy, Science, and Governance (DSG), highlighted the urgency of developing governance frameworks that can keep pace with scientific advancements. “The goal is to carefully co-develop thoughtful, practical governance tools before research expansion narrows public choice,” she stated.
Recognizing the potential consequences of solar geoengineering, Janice R. Lachance, Executive Director and CEO of AGU, emphasized the importance of ethical research practices. “We are pleased to be a founding Nodal partner for SGRG to promote inclusive and transparent research practices in a field with potentially far-reaching consequences,” she noted.
The need for robust governance frameworks has become increasingly clear, especially following controversies surrounding field experiments that lacked effective oversight. The SGRG Platform aims to establish common standards for transparency, public engagement, and accountability across various institutions worldwide.
Key Components of the SGRG Platform
The SGRG Platform is designed to develop a shared set of tools and norms, which include:
- A living Research Governance Charter that outlines expectations for transparency, engagement, scientific merit, and potential conflicts of interest.
- A public disclosure system documenting research plans, funding sources, and engagement processes.
- Guidance on community engagement, ensuring that Indigenous and directly affected communities are involved through processes like Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
- Options for independent scientific merit reviews, especially where existing agency processes do not apply.
- Accountability frameworks addressing liability, risk management, and norms for intellectual property.
- A research question database to integrate community, policymaker, and civil society concerns into the research agenda.
These tools will be adaptable, acknowledging the varied governance needs across modeling, laboratory studies, and outdoor experiments, while maintaining core principles.
To foster global legitimacy, regional nodes will shape governance applications in different contexts, with institutions from the Global South playing pivotal roles. Funding sources and governance processes will be publicly disclosed to prevent private control over research outcomes.
According to Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW, the SGRG Platform could ensure that governance evolves alongside scientific research, enhancing transparency and accountability from the outset. “Good governance does not slow research; it makes knowledge credible, inclusive, and useful for countries most vulnerable to climate impacts,” he explained.
The UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), currently the largest public funder of solar radiation management research through its Exploring Climate Cooling programme, has expressed commitment to collaborating with SGRG. The agency aims to share insights from its research governance implementation and intends to become a leading institutional adopter of SGRG principles.
This announcement marks the beginning of a co-development phase, with partners set to finalize initial governance components in the coming weeks. An in-person meeting will convene partners and experts to collaboratively draft the Research Governance Charter, with an official launch of the SGRG Platform anticipated in July 2026.
Richie Kaur, Senior Advocate at NRDC, stressed the importance of this initiative: “This effort is about closing the gap in governance infrastructure and ensuring that research prioritizes public interests, not private profits.” As the SGRG Platform takes shape, it holds the potential to define how solar geoengineering research is conducted and governed, striving for a balance between innovation and public trust.
