Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is a highly debated approach to mitigating the effects of global warming that involves reflecting some of the sun’s rays away from Earth. While these technologies hold promise, they also carry significant environmental, ethical, and geopolitical risks. Currently, there is no clear regulatory framework defining whether and how research in this area can be conducted. The development of standards for responsible management will determine whether future actions are safe and socially acceptable. 

In response to these challenges, the “Conditions for Responsible Research on SRM: Analysis, Co-Creation and Ethos” (Co-CREATE) initiative was launched – a research project under the Horizon Europe program aimed at: 

• defining the framework for safe and ethical research on SRM; 

• develop a research governance framework at the European and international levels; 

• engage a broad range of stakeholders and citizens in a dialogue on the future of these technologies. 

To achieve this, the team analyzes existing legal and ethical standards and conducts co-creation workshops with researchers, policymakers, and civil society. The work focuses on risk mapping, assessing public perception, and examining potential geopolitical conflicts arising from the development of SRM technologies, while promoting transparency in scientific activities. 

The results of this work include recommendations for managing SRM research in Europe, codes of ethical conduct, and a toolkit to support transparent public dialogue. The project will also provide guidelines for policymakers and research funding agencies. 

As part of the project, the Reform Institute is responsible for analyzing existing experience in managing high-risk areas analogous to research on solar radiation modification technologies. 

All of these initiatives provide the reliable evidence needed to establish public oversight of SRM research. Thanks to the Co-CREATE project, the debate on the future of climate governance is grounded in ethical values and public acceptance, which helps prevent the uncontrolled development of new technologies in Poland and across Europe. 

The Co-CREATE consortium, coordinated by the Perspectives Climate Group, brings together renowned universities and research institutes from across Europe (including Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) specializing in the ethics of technology, international law, climate science, and political science. 

The Co-CREATE project has received funding from the European Union’s “Horizon Europe” research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101137642, as well as funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee (No. 10123643).