July 2026 · Initiative Document
An open, non-profit international platform for scientific and technological cooperation on Solar Radiation Modification, proposed to fill the gaps in international coordination and to serve global climate governance and the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Preparatory work is scheduled for completion in 2026, with official launch in 2027.
Rationale
Global warming is escalating and extreme climate events are occurring more frequently. Mitigation, understood as greenhouse gas emission control and reduction, has moved from a universal global consensus towards fragmentation. Climate governance centered on mitigation now faces growing uncertainties, and exclusive reliance on emission reduction measures may prove insufficient to deliver the climate targets stipulated in the Paris Agreement.
Global investment in climate adaptation and resilience remains insufficient for most climate hazards. Solar Radiation Modification has therefore drawn widespread attention and in-depth research from the scientific, engineering and governance communities as an important complementary mechanism for mitigation and adaptation, and it continues to carry academic and public controversy.
No overarching international cooperative body yet covers all technical pathways of SRM or coordinates the efforts of all parties. Research on individual technical branches remains fragmented, which leaves gaps in unified monitoring standards, quantitative accounting methodologies, technical specification frameworks, global data sharing, cross-domain engineering coordination and transnational ethical governance.
The initiative document proposes the alliance to fill these international gaps and to support global climate governance as well as the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Definition
Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is described in the initiative document as a comprehensive multi-technology climate intervention approach. It regulates the albedo of the atmosphere, cloud layers and land surface by artificial means, so as to alter the radiative balance of the Earth system and curb the trend of global warming.
Research in this field requires interdisciplinary integration across climate science, satellite remote sensing, Earth system simulation, atmospheric engineering, ecology and environmental science, new energy technologies, building design, economic evaluation, international ethics and global governance.
The document lists these five pathways and notes that each has its own technical attributes, application scenarios and implementation conditions, jointly forming a systematic and complete SRM technical framework.
Atmospheric radiative intervention
Technologies centered on atmospheric radiative intervention, such as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), carry considerable uncertainties.
Surface Albedo Modification (SAM)
SAM is built upon surface albedo regulation and has been widely deployed. It features high public acceptance and manageable risks, yet its climatic effects are relatively confined to local areas.
Mission
Guided by the principles of scientific rigor, neutrality and objectivity, data-driven research, ecological security and global equity, the alliance aims to establish an open, non-profit international platform for scientific and technological cooperation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The platform advances the coordinated development of fundamental research, technological innovation, standard formulation, engineering demonstration and governance regulation in the SRM field, and provides scientific support and practical engineering solutions for global climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Positioning
The world’s comprehensive international academic and engineering organization focused exclusively on SRM.
Connecting international bodies including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).
Linking scientific research, satellite monitoring, engineering application, standard formulation and international governance.
An open, inclusive, multi-national and academically neutral global community.
Core Tasks
The alliance integrates global albedo monitoring data, Earth system models and experimental results, and works towards unified quantification across the field.
Standards are developed in cooperation with the relevant ISO technical committees and national standardization bodies.
Integrated demonstrations of Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) are promoted in real application scenarios.
The alliance studies the impacts of SRM and builds the governance framework that research and experimentation require.
Exchange is organized through conferences, workshops, training programs and a dedicated platform for young scholars.
Recommendations are prepared for governments and for international climate governance mechanisms.
Initiation
The IASRM is proposed to be jointly initiated by leading research institutions and enterprises in the fields of climate, remote sensing, energy, building, ecology and standards. The Secretariat is planned to be based in China. The work relies on the existing international SRM conference platform. All preparatory work is scheduled for completion in 2026, with the official launch in 2027.
2026
All preparatory work scheduled for completion within 2026.
2027
Official launch of the alliance in 2027.
Participate
The initiative invites institutions and individuals from all countries to respond and to take part in the preparation of the alliance.
Participants are invited to discuss the charter and structure, to establish working groups, to advance academic cooperation and to build SRM into a safe, efficient and inclusive new pathway for global climate mitigation.
Send a letter of interest to the address below. Until the Secretariat is established, this laboratory mailbox serves as the interim point of contact.
yuanchao.fan@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn
Official Secretariat contact details will be announced.
Download the initiative document and reply to the address above with your position or a letter of interest.
For Climate, For Our Future. The Time for Action Is Now.
Closing statement of the initiative document, July 2026