Reflective proposes research plan for stratospheric aerosol injection

The non-profit organization Reflective has introduced a comprehensive research plan for stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), a solar geoengineering method designed to temporarily lower global temperatures by reflecting sunlight. The process mimics the cooling effect observed after large volcanic eruptions by releasing small particles into the stratosphere.

The proposed roadmap includes laboratory research, new observation systems, climate modeling, and eventual outdoor experiments. Reflective estimates that a coordinated research effort could reach a decision on the safety and viability of SAI in approximately 10 years at a cost of 322 million euros, whereas a less coordinated approach could take up to 22 years and cost 1.18 billion euros.

However, the long-term consequences of such interventions remain uncertain, particularly regarding regional rainfall patterns, atmospheric chemistry, and the ozone layer. The United Nations Environment Programme noted in 2026 that current scientific knowledge does not yet support solar radiation modification as a viable solution to climate change, emphasizing that such measures do not address the root cause of warming: rising greenhouse gas concentrations.