Climate scientists and key stakeholders have convened in Accra to deliberate on emerging climate intervention approaches that could help reduce global temperatures should climate change reach dangerous thresholds.
Central to the discussions was Solar Radiation Management (SRM), a concept that seeks to reflect a small portion of incoming sunlight back into space to limit global warming. Scientists say the idea mirrors natural cooling effects observed after major volcanic eruptions.
Participants underscored the need for public education, transparency, and inclusive national dialogue to ensure that conversations around climate intervention are balanced, scientifically grounded, and accessible to the broader public.
Opening the two-day meeting, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Ghana, said the steady rise in global temperatures and the threat of climate “tipping points” had prompted scientists worldwide to explore additional response options.
She explained that such exploration becomes necessary in the event that existing mitigation measures prove insufficient to keep warming within safe limits.
The meeting was organised by the African Climate Intervention Research Hub (ACIRH) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Authority of Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen the link between science and policymaking on the continent.
According to organisers, the forum aims to ensure that African perspectives shape global conversations on emerging climate intervention strategies.
Professor Klutse noted that interest in SRM was partly influenced by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, which resulted in a temporary drop in global temperatures.
She explained that particles released into the upper atmosphere during the eruption reflected a portion of the sun’s radiation back into space, producing a short-term cooling effect.
Researchers, she said, are studying whether similar processes could be intentionally replicated.
However, she stressed that such approaches remain experimental and are subject to rigorous scientific evaluation.
Professor Klutse cautioned that SRM often referred to as solar geoengineering cannot replace efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“It does not remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It only reduces the amount of heat reaching the Earth’s surface. Therefore, it cannot be regarded as a permanent solution to climate change,” she stated.
Dr. Francis Nkrumah, a climate physicist at the University of Cape Coast, observed that interest in SRM has grown partly because it could theoretically influence global temperatures more rapidly than emissions reduction strategies, which typically take longer to yield measurable results.
He noted, however, that significant uncertainties remain regarding its broader environmental consequences.
Dr. Nkrumah said researchers are investigating possible impacts on rainfall patterns, agriculture, and the ozone layer, which shields life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
He emphasised the importance of African countries, including Ghana, actively participating in both research and policy discussions to better understand how such interventions might interact with regional climate systems, food security, and water resources.
Despite the ongoing research, Dr. Nkrumah reiterated that cutting greenhouse gas emissions remains the most dependable and sustainable response to climate change.
“Climate intervention concepts are being examined within broader scientific research frameworks, but they do not substitute for strong mitigation and adaptation measures,” he said.
The African Climate Intervention Research Hub, formed in 2024 and launched in 2025, is building a network of African researchers who combine expertise in climate science with emerging knowledge on Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Management.
The initiative brings together both senior and early-career scientists to generate research that supports informed, Africa-focused policy engagement on climate change and potential intervention strategies.
Organisers say the Hub seeks to ensure that Africa’s interests and priorities are clearly represented in global climate discussions, while promoting cautious, evidence-based assessment of emerging climate response options.
