We have awarded eight Global South solar radiation modification (SRM) research teams greater funding to allow them to deepen their work and raise their scientific ambitions.
Our initial grants for SRM modelling studies, of up to GBP 65,000, launched first-of-their-kind studies in new regions. But with researchers wanting to spend more time on their SRM research, we wanted to provide larger, longer support.
The new ‘expansion’ grants, for up to GBP 200,000 covering 30 months, will enable teams to complete more complex research, to grow their reputation as experts, and to support the next generation of local climate modellers.
The eight awarded teams, across Africa, Asia and Latin America, will study the potential impacts of climate change and SRM on urban flood risk, heat stress, ocean health, renewable energy, crop productivity and disease risk.
Projects
Southeast Asia Flood Risk and Governance in Highly Populated Cities under Solar Radiation Modification (SEA-FLOOD)
Principal Investigator: Mou Leong Tan, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Flooding is one of the most damaging hazards in Southeast Asia, particularly in rapidly growing cities where populations, infrastructure and economic activity are highly concentrated.
The project will build on previous work that modelled temperature and precipitation extremes to examine how changes in them may translate into flood risk and associated governance challenges, and how SRM could influence these.
The team will analyse climate model simulations to evaluate flood risk in major cities such as Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore. The project will also review regional disaster governance frameworks to assess how prepared institutions are to manage urban flood risk under SRM and identify key policy challenges.
Mou Leong said: “This grant will enable us to explore innovative approaches for investigating how SRM may influence flood risk in the region, while creating new opportunities for collaboration and supporting the development of early-career researchers.”
“I am grateful for this grant, which will provide valuable support for expanding our research on flood disasters that affect millions of people across Southeast Asia.”
Regional Modelling of Marine Cloud Brightening and its Impacts in Thailand
Principal Investigator: Ping-Ping Narenpitak, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand
This study will evaluate the impacts of localised marine cloud brightening (MCB) on Thailand’s climate system. The team will examine whether adding sea-salt aerosols over the Gulf of Thailand could enhance sunlight reflection and reduce heat stress in nearby land areas, while considering implications for local marine ecosystems.
The researchers will simulate targeted sea-salt injections and assess impacts on cloud properties, surface temperature and precipitation during selected seasons. They will compare these results with their previous work that assessed the impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), providing locally relevant evidence on potential risks and benefits of MCB.
Ping-Ping said: “We are excited to receive this expansion grant, which will enable our team to move beyond analysing global model outputs and begin running high-resolution regional climate models tailored to Thailand and Southeast Asia.”
“This support will strengthen local capacity to conduct independent regional climate modelling and provide regionally relevant evidence on the potential impacts of marine cloud brightening.”
Stratospheric geoengineering Effects on tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (SEAPO)
Principal Investigator: Casimir Da-Allada, National University of Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics of Abomey (UNSTIM), Benin
Conditions in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have a significant impact on coastal countries’ climate. As these regions are rich in ocean life, local livelihoods often rely on fishing, making coastal communities highly vulnerable to climate change.
The study will extend work on the impacts of climate change and SRM on critical tropical ocean systems, including sea-surface and deeper-layer salinity, temperature, and chlorophyll concentration. Findings from the project may help local authorities of coastal countries identify how SRM might affect their climate-related risks.
Casimir said: “This expansion grant is a great opportunity for our team to deepen our ongoing research on geoengineering in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and extend it to crucial comparative studies with the tropical Pacific. Through our research, we sincerely hope to equip our policymakers with the essential knowledge required to make informed and responsible decisions for the future of our nations.”
“This funding allows us to continue training the next generation of African scientists and firmly positions our team as a centre of excellence in West Africa. We are deeply grateful to Degrees for recognising that global conversations on geoengineering must actively involve African expertise.”
Quantifying the Impacts of Solar Geoengineering on Renewable Energy Potential in Argentina
Principal Investigator: Inés Camilloni, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Few SRM simulations consider its potential physical effects on energy systems. This is especially critical for the Global South, where expanding renewable energy is a key economic need. This project examines SRM impacts on renewable energy systems and electricity demand in Argentina and South America, including hydropower, wind, and solar energy systems.
The team will build on their work examining climate pattern changes to evaluate how SRM could affect solar photovoltaic potential, wind power density, and river discharge across the region, as well as impacts on electricity demand. The findings will provide the first region-specific evidence for energy planners and policymakers to assess the risks, opportunities and trade-offs that SRM deployment might pose to Argentina’s renewable energy infrastructure.
Inés said: “Argentina has significant renewable energy resources and infrastructure, supported by substantial public and private investments in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. However, regional energy planners and policymakers lack practical information on how potential SRM deployment could affect these investments, including associated risks and opportunities for both current and future renewable energy capacity.”
“We sincerely thank Degrees for their support, which allows us to advance research on the impacts of SRM on Argentina’s renewable energy potential and to provide evidence-based insights on climate intervention and its effects on energy systems that support decarbonisation and sustainable energy futures.”
Impacts of Solar Radiation Modification on Palm Oil Productivity and Economic Risk in Indonesia
Principal Investigator: Heri Kuswanto, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia
Palm oil is a critical commodity for Indonesia, supporting millions of livelihoods and contributing substantially to export revenues, making it highly relevant for decision-making. This project investigates how SRM and climate change may affect palm oil productivity in Indonesia and the resulting implications for national economic risk.
The project will build on temperature, precipitation and heat stress modelling to investigate how these may affect palm crop yields across a range of SRM and climate-change scenarios. The team will then assess how these changes may translate into economic outcomes, including production variability and export-related risk. The results will support informed discussions on climate risk management and potential interventions in Indonesia and similar developing countries.
Heri said: “This expansion grant provides an exciting opportunity to extend our research beyond climate modelling and examine how solar radiation modification may affect agricultural systems. By investigating potential impacts on palm oil, we hope to generate evidence that is scientifically robust and relevant to communities in Southeast Asia whose livelihoods depend on these crops.”
“We are particularly looking forward to strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and translating climate research into a clearer understanding of real-world impacts.”
Impacts of SRM on Vector-Borne Diseases in Global South: From Predictions to Policy Implications
Principal Investigator: Athar Hussain, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan
Vector-borne diseases – those carried by animals such as mosquitoes – are predicted to spread further in a warming world. The team will expand their work modelling malaria’s response to SRM in South Asia to the entire Global South, encompassing 159 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.
They will also expand their SRM Malaria Dashboard resource to include dengue as well as malaria in predictive modelling of disease risk under SRM and climate change scenarios.
The developed tools will support climate and health policymakers in evaluating epidemiological trade-offs of possible SRM approaches, anticipating future disease hotspots, and implementing evidence-based vector management strategies.
“The expansion grant will ensure continued capacity building in Pakistan for informing the scientific community and other diverse stakeholders about the impacts of SRM on vector-borne diseases in South Asia.”
Potential Impacts of Solar Radiation Management on Climate Risks and Food Security in Africa: Rangeland Health, Livestock Production, and Marine Productivity
Principal Investigator: Babatunde Abiodun, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Africa faces rising climate risks (heat stress, droughts, floods and marine heatwaves) that threaten crops, livestock and fisheries: the foundation of food security for millions. The project will assess how stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) might alter these risks and their impacts on rangelands and marine ecosystems.
Building on earlier studies, the team will analyse climate variables such as rainfall, temperature, drought severity and ocean circulation, to identify trade‑offs and synergies that shape food security outcomes. The results will deepen scientific understanding, strengthen regional capacity, and support Africa’s policymakers in global climate intervention governance discussions. This will ensure that communities dependent on crops, livestock, and fisheries are not left behind.
Babatunde said: “This support will enable us to extend our research across rangeland productivity, animal production, and marine ecosystems, while strengthening collaborations and building long‑term capacity.”
“We are honoured to receive the expansion grant to study the impacts of SRM on climate risks and food security in Africa. We look forward to advancing scientific understanding in these areas.”
Solar Radiation Modification and the South Asian Summer Monsoon
Principal Investigator: Govindasamy Bala, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
Almost a quarter of the world’s population depends on South Asian monsoon rainfall, and any changes due to climate change or climate interventions could have a critical impact on their livelihoods. This is particularly true for India, as the summer monsoon accounts for about 80% of annual rainfall.
Building on work modelling the impacts of SRM and climate change on the monsoon over India as a whole, this research will investigate regional and local-scale monsoon dynamics. These include identifying regional mechanisms that affect monsoon rainfall, such as aerosol asymmetry effects, monsoon system statistics under stratospheric aerosol injection, and marine cloud brightening in the Indian Ocean.
