Solar Radiation Modification Youth Watch (SRM YW) is a youth and global south-led initiative concerned about the lack of effective governance for SRM.

We adopt 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.

SRM YW is concerned about the lack of awareness and engagement among young people in international discussions and processes aimed at strengthening the research and governance of SRM.  

Young people are future decision-makers, they will inherit the consequences of decisions made today. Youth-led participation goes beyond consultation, it requires the inclusion of young people in decision-making, knowledge generation, innovation, and accountability processes. It is therefore essential to recognise the deep interdependence between science, justice, and youth agency. 

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 of SRM. As SRM gains increasing attention  in international fora, it is crucial that more young people are well-informed, actively participate in discussions and are empowered to contribute to decision - making   in the near future.

SRM YW maintains a neutral stance on all decisions related to the potential deployment or not of SRM 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. 

Science is foundational to humanity, vital for survival and for creating the evidence base that informs decisions to address the world’s greatest challenges, including the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Scientific evidence has also exposed existing inequalities and inspired children and youth worldwide to mobilise for climate and intergenerational justice. 

We aim to provide young people worldwide with access to diverse, balanced, and evidence-based information, enabling them to engage critically and constructively in discussions and decision-making processes related to SRM science 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 in the contact us section.