Advancing Just and Inclusive Deliberation
We’re guided by our core beliefs, clear principles, and a dedication to transparency and inclusivity.
Shaping Knowledge with Transparency and Democratic Values
DSG supports well-governed research to develop knowledge in a way that is democratic, inclusive, transparent and aimed at promoting informed decision-making:
We support an expansion of modeling research that is impacts-oriented, engaging with a more diverse set of regionally oriented questions.
We support small-scale experiments that do not have a climate impact, have scientific merit, and follow robust governance guidance aligned with existing principles such as the SCoPEx Advisory Committee governance framework or the AGU Ethical Framework on Climate Intervention. The information these experiments provide can improve modeling and develop further understanding of the risks and benefits of solar geoengineering.
However, we do not support larger-scale outdoor experiments, aligned with CBD COP10 decision X/33, “until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities and appropriate consideration of the associated risks for the environment and biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural impacts.”
We support a moratorium on full deployment in alignment with the recommendations of the Climate Overshoot Commission.
Committed to Fair and Transparent
Decision-Making
DSG is outcome-neutral and remains committed to ensuring that any outcome or decision—whether around solar geoengineering research, use, or non-use—is reached transparently, inclusively, and democratically. Given the pace of developments in this field and its global nature, we believe that there is a pressing need to foster informed discussions that uphold scientific integrity, enable good governance, and prioritize the well-being of communities and ecosystems.
Our Core Beliefs
Climate justice is imperative:
Solar geoengineering must be assessed through the lens of global climate justice.
Solar geoengineering could only ever be additional and temporary:
Solar geoengineering should only exist in the context of rapid and robust emissions reductions and carbon dioxide removal.
Governance must be early and inclusive:
We’re in a narrow window of opportunity to shape governance in a just way in early stages of solar geoengineering.
All communities must be able to speak for themselves:
Communities must be able to represent their interests in deliberation about solar geoengineering.
Transparency is key:
Transparency and accountability in funding, activities, and actors is a prerequisite for legitimacy and accountability.
Solar geoengineering cannot be profit-driven:
Solar geoengineering must serve the public good, not private interests. Profit motives risk distorting priorities, undermining trust, and deepening global inequities.
Our Principles
The work of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering is centered on some common principles informing how we do our work:
The most vulnerable to current and near term climate impacts deserve an impactful voice in solar geoengineering deliberation. DSG will center these voices in our work.
DSG recognizes that justice-oriented engagement requires that all risks must be considered: those stemming from climate impacts in the absence of solar geoengineering as well as risks from potential solar geoengineering deployment scenarios.
DSG is working towards creating just processes.
DSG is focused on creating just processes and will always strive to work without bias to outcome.
DSG will empower people to formulate their own perspectives on solar geoengineering research and potential deployment rather than boxing them into existing narratives.
Important questions about solar geoengineering are full of contextual nuance and complication. DSG will not avoid difficult conversations when narratives are challenged.
Countries and communities are deeply heterogeneous. DSG will work toward communal goals within a complex justice sphere.
Accurate, honest representation of people’s words is vital. DSG will present different views in unbiased ways.
DSG aims to empower civil society to meaningfully engage in solar geoengineering discourse wherever possible.
It takes time to build capacity to enable the inclusive participation essential for legitimate governance. DSG will not skip steps as it works to build just frameworks.
We don’t pretend to have all the answers, and we’re constantly learning from all the work we’re doing.
Still have questions?
Reach out to us for more information.