Climate change is worsening at an alarming rate. A recent report by the World Meteorological Organization shows that global greenhouse gas emissions have surged by 11.4% over two decades, heightening the risk of severe climate impacts. Governments and other stakeholders from all over the world have gathered for the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan. In this context, it is imperative to understand that the lack of substantive climate action globally is compelling some climate scientists and policymakers to consider all potential response strategies, including Solar Radiation Management (SRM).
SRM refers to deliberate, artificial methods for reflecting a small amount of sunlight away from the planet to cool it rapidly. While mitigating emissions and robust adaptation remain the absolute priority, and scaling up technologies to remove legacy emissions needs are high, SRM could act as a stopgap to cool the planet if certain climate risks and tipping points approach more quickly than anticipated.
The Global North-South divide in SRM research and governance
Discussions and research on SRM are marked by stark Global North-South asymmetries. Most SRM research and policy dialogues occur within the Global North, deeply limiting perspectives from the Global South, where climate impacts are often felt most acutely. This imbalance risks excluding many underexplored considerations of regional impacts - such as changes to precipitation, agriculture, biodiversity, economy, geopolitics, society, and overarching security. These knowledge gaps allow decisions to be driven by those with the resources to engage without meaningful input from climate-vulnerable nations like Pakistan.
The current state of SRM governance is concerning: it is narrow in scope, fragmented, and dominated by a few powerful countries and private institutions. This raises the risk that future SRM actions may lack the justice, transparency, and accountability essential for any climate intervention. Stronger, more inclusive governance frameworks are urgently needed to prevent a deepening North-South divide and to reduce the risk of conflict and tensions between states.
The need for youth engagement on SRM
A crucial yet often overlooked aspect of SRM discourse is the role of youth. Today’s young people are tomorrow’s leaders, inheriting complex climate and SRM challenges. Engaging them now in SRM research is essential for intergenerational justice, ensuring they are prepared to make informed, ethical decisions about SRM if needed. The choices we make - or defer - today will shape their world.
Youth around the world are already demonstrating a commitment to tackling climate challenges. They are engaging in research, advocacy, and policy development at international, national, and local levels. Although the UNFCCC, as the main global climate negotiations body, has not officially engaged on SRM, side events on SRM at its annual COPs have increased, including among the youth. This is significant, highlighting that these technologies are not going away and will have to be contended with, sooner rather than later. Vigorously extending youth engagement to overcoming SRM knowledge gaps can help empower youth groups to better understand the burden of the decisions ahead and the platforms where deliberations can be effective.
The upcoming simulation will have students representing different countries, each presenting position statements on the basis of prepared strategy memos. They will engage in negotiations to amend and reach a consensus on the proposed resolution. This hands-on approach, modelled on actual UNEA procedures, will provide students with critical insights into the procedural and strategic elements of international climate governance
Encouragingly, platforms for youth engagement in SRM are expanding. The Climate Intervention Network, launched by The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG), supports early-career SRM professionals, while Operaatio Arktis, a Finnish youth-led climate strategy agency, mobilises Arctic governments and civil society, produces science communication reports, and hosts events at various forums. Additionally, a growing number of master’s and PhD students are pursuing SRM-focused theses, demonstrating their commitment to this contentious field - one often avoided by senior researchers. Yet, much work remains to ensure that youth engagement in SRM is robust, organised, and impactful.
Simulations of international negotiations can help youth engagement on SRM
One mechanism to effectively involve students of all ages in learning about SRM is through simulations of international negotiation processes. These simulations provide practical exposure to the complexities of climate governance, helping participants develop nuanced perspectives and collaborative problem-solving skills. To this end, the Faculty of Aerospace and Strategic Studies (FASS) at Air University, in partnership with DSG, is organising an SRM-focused simulation for bachelor’s students in international relations. This initiative will simulate the upcoming Seventh Session of the UN Environment Assembly (scheduled for December 2025), where an SRM resolution may be introduced.
Switzerland previously introduced draft resolutions on SRM during UNEA-4 in 2019 and UNEA-6 in 2022. Both times, the resolutions were ultimately withdrawn due to a lack of consensus, highlighting the contentious nature of SRM and the need for comprehensive dialogue. The upcoming simulation will have students representing different countries, each presenting position statements on the basis of prepared strategy memos. They will engage in negotiations to amend and reach a consensus on the proposed resolution. This hands-on approach, modelled on actual UNEA procedures, will provide students with critical insights into the procedural and strategic elements of international climate governance.
By providing young people with simulation experiences like these, we introduce them to real-world engagements. Such initiatives can help bridge the gaps between Global North and South institutions by nurturing a generation of leaders who are equipped to advocate for equitable climate solutions.
Partnerships are paramount for making informed decisions on SRM
Pakistan sits at a crossroads of climate vulnerability and opportunity. The FASS Climate Security course is equipping students with a deeper understanding of climate security risks and governance. While these efforts are just one of many steps needed to foster youth engagement with SRM, pairing academic foundations with practical simulations strengthens young Pakistanis’ potential to shape climate policy at both national and international levels. These educational efforts are crucial for nurturing justice-oriented SRM governance.
In this pivotal decade of rising climate risks, preparing young minds now lays the groundwork for future SRM decisions - whether to pursue, regulate, or reject - emphasising resilience, climate justice, and inclusivity.