The Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-STEPRI) has initiated local stakeholder engagement as part of Ghana’s preparations for a future global Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) initiative.
The Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) initiative is a global proposal aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming by injecting substances into the atmosphere that create reflective aerosols, which reflect sunlight back into space.
The stakeholders, drawn from various sectors, including government, academia, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector, discussed the potential benefits and risks Ghana may face if SRM was implemented globally.
They also explored the development of a framework to govern SRM in Ghana, focusing on informed ethical, policy, and social practices.
The discussion took place during the launch of the project titled “Assessment of Knowledge and Governance towards SRM in Ghana: Implications for more efficient Ethical, Policy, and Social Practices.”
It was organized by CSIR-STEPRI in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast and the University of Health and Allied Sciences and funded by the DEGREES Initiative.
Dr. Portia Adade Williams, a Research Scientist with CSIR-STEPRI, explained that the goal of the project was to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of the science behind Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) as well as its ethical, social, and political implications.
She added that the initiative would focus on exploring opportunities to integrate perspectives from diverse stakeholders to develop a comprehensive socio-political strategy for SRM in Ghana.
“This is a very important project that is timelier because looking at the impacts of climate change now, we are talking a lot about how we can reduce greenhouse gases and in effect global warming,” she added.
Dr. Williams stated that by assessing the country’s existing knowledge and governance systems, they could identify gaps and weaknesses that needed to be addressed in the context of SRM.
She said that through ongoing engagements, more effective policies and practices could be developed to promote sustainable resource management in Ghana.
Dr. Eric Asuman, Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency, underscored the importance of adopting a long-term, sustainable plan that considered the potential consequences of decisions on future generations.
He stressed that this approach should prioritize fairness, justice, and human rights, while acknowledging that sustainable resource management was not only a technical challenge but also a moral and ethical one.
SRM technologies offer potential solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, including managing solar radiation to adjust temperature and rainfall patterns.
Techniques such as stratospheric aerosol injection and cloud albedo enhancement have been proposed as temporary measures to cool the planet and alleviate some of the adverse effects of climate change.
However, the governance of SRM is complex, involving critical ethical, policy, and social considerations. This is particularly important for Ghana, where the effects of climate change are increasingly affecting various sectors.
Currently, the full extent of SRM’s environmental impacts remains poorly understood, raising concerns about unforeseen and irreversible ecological disruptions.
