About us
Solar Radiation Modification Youth Watch (SRM YW) is a youth and global south-led initiative concerned about the lack of sufficient international governance around SRM, but also the lack of awareness and engagement in governance discussions amongst young people who are future decision-makers. SRM YW adopts the definition of governance as stipulated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2015) the most authoritative intergovernmental assessment of the latest science on climate change. We see governance as:
A comprehensive and inclusive concept of the full range of means for deciding, managing, implementing and monitoring policies and measures. Whereas government is defined strictly in terms of the nation-state, the more inclusive concept of governance recognizes the contributions of various levels of government (global, international, regional, sub-national and local) and the contributing roles of the private sector, of nongovernmental actors, and of civil society to addressing the many types of issues facing the global community.
Our primary focus is to enhance the knowledge and build capacity of young people aged 15 to 35 years old in the science and governance around SRM. As it becomes increasingly addressed in international fora, it is crucial that more young people are knowledgeable about and participate in discussions and are empowered to inform decisions in the near future.
SRM YW maintains a neutral stance on all decisions related to the potential deployment or not of SRM techniques and technologies.
SRM YW welcomes the need for scientifically robust information on the potential impacts, risks and benefits of SRM techniques and technologies to provide a holistic and transdisciplinary science-policy basis for governments, various rights and stakeholders to establish a baseline on which governance can exist. We seek to provide young people globally with access to diverse, balanced, evidence-based information to engage critically and constructively in discussions and decision-making about SRM technology and governance.
The SRM YW platform enables young people to engage directly with policymakers through inputs in multiple intergovernmental processes ranging from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
We also seek to collaborate to increase the active participation of young people in governance discussions on SRM and host other SRM-related initiatives happening around the globe, such as workshops, research, audio-visual projects, and awareness-raising events. We would love to hear about your work and any ideas you have, get in touch with us here!
The climate crisis is causing our world to warm rapidly, and scientists warn that if warming exceeds the 1.5-2°C Paris Agreement temperature goal, the climate system is more likely to cross tipping points, some may be irreversible. The recent sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has assessed warming of 1.5°C as more likely than not to be exceeded in the low emissions scenario, and more likely than not to be reached even in the very low emission scenario. In response to this, solar radiation modification (SRM) to reduce the amount of absorbed solar energy in the climate system is being explored as a potential additional response option. However, SRM technologies have faced many uncertainties and potentially pose many new risks. The absence of a comprehensive international governance framework for SRM raises critical concerns for many, as mentioned in many reports published in 2023, such as by the European Union (EU), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United States (US), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and World Economic Forum (WEF), to name a few. Climate and intergenerational justice must underpin SRM governance, given that youth now, future generations, and climate-vulnerable communities will be the most impacted by all decisions (or lack of) made on SRM research and deployment. Therefore, the voices of young people are critical to fair and just governance deliberations on SRM.
SRM Youth Watch emerged from the co-founders' participation in the Youth Voices for Emerging Climate Governance project, where they learned about solar radiation modification (SRM) and its governance from world-renowned scientists, civil society leaders, and policymakers.
