November 5, 2025

Royal Society Report – Solar Radiation Modification

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) has been proposed as a way of ‘masking’ the temperature rise caused by greenhouse gases by increasing the amount of sunlight reflected back into space, thus cooling the planet.  The two techniques receiving the most attention are Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) and Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB). NERC and ARIA both announced funding for SRM research in 2025.

A new report by the Royal Society examines the evidence we have on SRM so far. It looks at the potential of SRM to reduce temperature, the impact on sea-level rise, wildfires and extreme rainfall, and what aspects of climate change SRM would not mitigate; as well as the limits of our knowledge so far, the technical feasibility of scaling up, and the risks and uncertainties of any future deployment.

Journalists came to this SMC briefing to hear three of the report’s authors discuss this controversial subject and put their questions to them.

Speakers included:

Prof Sheila Rowan FRS, Vice President and Physical Secretary of the Royal Society, and Director and Professor of Experimental Physics at the Institute for Gravitational Research, University of Glasgow

Prof Keith Shine FRS, Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science, University of Reading

Prof Jim Haywood, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Exeter