Reflective releases roadmap for solar geoengineering research

The San Francisco-based nonprofit Reflective has released a comprehensive research roadmap for stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), a solar geoengineering method designed to cool the Earth by releasing reflective particles into the stratosphere. The roadmap aims to provide the data and tools necessary for informed decision-making regarding the deployment of such technology.

According to the report, a coordinated global research effort could complete the necessary studies in approximately 10 years at a cost of $370 million. Without such coordination, the process could take 20 years and cost nearly $1.4 billion. Reflective CEO Dakota Gruener stated that the organization's mission is to provide data fast enough to matter, as the world may face consequential decisions on shorter timelines than current research systems are prepared for.

The proposal includes conducting outdoor experiments involving the release of sulfur dioxide to observe atmospheric effects. This recommendation is controversial; many scientists and environmental governance experts argue against outdoor testing, citing concerns over global governance, equity, and the lack of international frameworks to control technology that could alter the entire planet.