Climate Crisis Requires Global South Involvement in Geoengineering Decisions
As the world teeters on the brink of climate catastrophe, some are turning to an unconventional solution: solar geoengineering. The idea is simple: reflect sunlight back into space to cool the planet. But as the debate rages on, one group has been noticeably absent from the conversation: scientists and policymakers from the global south.
Climate experts warn that if solar geoengineering is ever deployed, transparency and inclusivity are crucial. The technology's effects would be unevenly distributed, with some areas potentially benefiting while others suffer harsh consequences. Yet, despite the growing urgency of the climate crisis, research funding for these technologies remains scarce in the global south.
Critics argue that excluding southern voices from geoengineering discussions is a recipe for disaster. Historical colonial dynamics have shaped climate policy, with solutions designed for one region but not by those who will be most affected. "We need public research on solar geoengineering led by institutions in the global south," writes Dr Ines Camilloni, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires and IPCC Working Group vice-chair. "We need funding that supports south-south collaboration... and a global governance framework that ensures equity, transparency, and informed consent."
The risks of solar geoengineering are real, but so is the danger of ignoring it altogether. If the technology is ever considered as part of a planetary emergency response, it must be debated in the light of day – not behind closed doors. Climate justice demands transparency and accountability.
As the climate crisis deepens, one thing is clear: the global south cannot afford to remain silent on this issue. We need southern voices to inform our decisions about solar geoengineering, and we need urgent action to address the knowledge gap that has grown in recent years. The clock is ticking – will we listen?
As the world teeters on the brink of climate catastrophe, some are turning to an unconventional solution: solar geoengineering. The idea is simple: reflect sunlight back into space to cool the planet. But as the debate rages on, one group has been noticeably absent from the conversation: scientists and policymakers from the global south.
Climate experts warn that if solar geoengineering is ever deployed, transparency and inclusivity are crucial. The technology's effects would be unevenly distributed, with some areas potentially benefiting while others suffer harsh consequences. Yet, despite the growing urgency of the climate crisis, research funding for these technologies remains scarce in the global south.
Critics argue that excluding southern voices from geoengineering discussions is a recipe for disaster. Historical colonial dynamics have shaped climate policy, with solutions designed for one region but not by those who will be most affected. "We need public research on solar geoengineering led by institutions in the global south," writes Dr Ines Camilloni, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires and IPCC Working Group vice-chair. "We need funding that supports south-south collaboration... and a global governance framework that ensures equity, transparency, and informed consent."
The risks of solar geoengineering are real, but so is the danger of ignoring it altogether. If the technology is ever considered as part of a planetary emergency response, it must be debated in the light of day – not behind closed doors. Climate justice demands transparency and accountability.
As the climate crisis deepens, one thing is clear: the global south cannot afford to remain silent on this issue. We need southern voices to inform our decisions about solar geoengineering, and we need urgent action to address the knowledge gap that has grown in recent years. The clock is ticking – will we listen?
it's like, we're really running out of time. I think it's super unfair that scientists from the global south aren't being involved enough in these geoengineering decisions 
they know exactly what's at stake and how their regions would be affected. It's not just about 'fixing' the problem, but also about not making things worse for people who are already struggling 
We need more transparency and accountability in these discussions, and let's be real, it's a huge issue of equity too 
can't we already see what's going down here? it's like we're trying to play climate whack-a-mole - one problem solved, another pops up and now we're talking about geoengineering? and you think the global south is just gonna magically show up at the table without some effort from our end? i'm not saying they should be excluded, but let's get real, we've been hearing about this stuff for years and what have we done? 
. I think it's super unfair that scientists from the global south are being left out of these geoengineering decisions. Like, if they're gonna play with fire (or in this case, reflect sunlight back into space), they should at least get to decide how to do it 
.
️. If we're gonna try solar geoengineering, we should be doing it with open books and transparent governance. Anything less is just not cool 
. The clock is ticking, indeed – let's listen to the southern voices and get this done 
!
. I mean, we're talking about a global south involvement in geoengineering decisions and it's kinda laughable that they're not being included in the conversation 
.
. Dr Ines Camilloni is totally right, we can't have a global governance framework without including southern voices in the decision-making process 
. It's time to break free from those colonial dynamics and actually listen to what the people who are most affected are saying 
. We need transparency, accountability, and some serious south-south collaboration 
.
. Can't they just get some funding like everyone else? It's not like they're asking for a miracle here... or are they? 
we can't just impose solutions from the north without considering the impacts on other parts of the world 
. It's crazy that they're saying historical colonial dynamics are still affecting climate policy 
. We gotta get funding and research going ASAP 
so everyone can benefit or suffer less from solar geoengineering 
. Transparency and equity are everything in this situation 
!
can't believe they're not involving southern countries in geoengineering discussions... it's like they're gonna benefit from the cooling or something 
while others are, like, totally gonna suffer 
, but can't we focus on the actual solutions instead of just rehashing the same old problems? I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in some kind of climate-themed Groundhog Day 
. Can't we have a nuanced discussion about solar geoengineering without all the drama and politics? It's a simple technology, let's focus on the science 
, shall we?