Would solar radiation modification exacerbate conflict?
The University of Tokyo
Masahiro Sugiyama
Abstract
Solar radiation modification (SRM) or solar geoengineering is a set of proposed technologies to
directly intervene in the Earth’s radiation budget to reduce surface temperatures in order to alleviate
risks from anthropogenic climate change. SRM could, however, present novel environmental and
societal risks, or a risk-risk tradeoff. Recent advances in scientific understanding suggest that using
SRM moderately would alleviate some climate risks and bring the climate back closer to preindustrial
levels when compared with not deploying SRM. This could, in turn, reduce the risks of climate induced conflicts. Though the intention behind using SRM could complicate the prospects for conflict,
the potential contribution of SRM to lessening conflict should be further investigated