Making sense of calls for bans and moratoria for solar geoengineering
Prohibitions, bans, moratoria – what would they mean for the science of SRM?
The European Commission is now reviewing proposals for moratoria recommended by its scientific advisors.
Meanwhile, a growing number of US states have proposed bills that would ban geoengineering, with a notable increase in the number of proposals during the first quarter of 2025.
SRM360.org invites you to a live discussion on the growing debate surrounding moratoria and bans on solar geoengineering, otherwise known as solar radiation modification (SRM).
This event will offer expert insights into why these proposals are gaining so much attention from policymakers, NGOs, and the media, and a chance to ask questions.
Speakers will include Julie Vinders, Joe Sonka, Craig Segall and Josh Horton.
Moderated by SRM360’s Pete Irvine.
Join this panel of experts to discover:
- Differences between proposals: Understand how bans and moratoria differ in concept and scope.
- Pros and cons: Examine the potential benefits and drawbacks associated with each regulatory approach.
- Impact on research: Learn how these measures influence ongoing and future scientific work.
- Critical choices: Explore key decision points in the coming months.
Why is this relevant now?
- European Commission Review: The Commission is considering proposals for moratoria on certain SRM activities that were recommended by scientific advisors.
- State-Level Bans in the US: More than twenty US states have proposed or adopted a ban on geoengineering.
- Divided academic viewpoints: An influential group of academics have called for a non-use agreement, which includes a ban on outdoor experiments.
In this briefing, you will discover the differences between bans and moratoria, explore what the pros and cons would be of each approach, and learn about potential upcoming policy discussions.
Julie Vinders
Senior Research Analyst
Trilateral Research Ltd
Julie is a Senior Research Analyst at Trilateral Research Ltd and focuses on conducting legal and policy analyses of emerging technologies. She is currently leading a legal analysis of SRM research as part of the EU-funded Co-CREATE project, which seeks to identify the conditions for responsible research on SRM. Julie has a background in international and EU law, focusing on environmental and climate change law in particular.
Joe Sonka
Enterprise Statehouse Reporter
Kentucky Public Radio
Joe Sonka has been Kentucky Public Radio’s enterprise statehouse reporter for the past two years and has covered Kentucky government and politics for nearly two decades. He previously worked for the Louisville Courier Journal and was a lead reporter for the newspaper’s 2020 Pulitzer Prize-winning series on former Gov. Matt Bevin’s controversial pardons just before leaving office.
Craig Segall
Consultant
Environmental Policy
Craig Segall, a senior environmental policy consultant, is the former Deputy Executive Officer and Assistant Chief Counsel of the California Air Resources Board and a former Senior Vice President of Evergreen Action, a US environmental NGO. Earlier in his career, he was an attorney for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. He is also an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh Law School. His views are, of course, entirely his own.
Josh Horton
Senior Program Fellow, Solar Geoengineering
Harvard Kennedy School
Josh is a Senior Program Fellow, Solar Geoengineering, at Harvard Kennedy School, and conducts wide-ranging research on the national and international governance of SRM research and potential deployment. He also writes for SRM360.