From Science to Policy: Navigating the Complexities of Emerging Climate Techniques in the Americas

This outcomes report details a workshop series and a final in-person simulation in Bogota, Colombia, designed to build the capacity of government representatives from the Americas to engage with the science and governance of solar radiation modification (SRM). The initiative, led by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and partners, focused on navigating scientific uncertainty, ethical considerations, and the need for regional research to ensure equitable participation in multilateral climate discussions.

• Participants identified a critical need for expanded research and data access to understand the specific physical and socio-economic impacts of solar radiation modification (SRM) within the region, advocating for science that is produced by and for the region while remaining connected to the Global North.
• There is a perceived disparity between the low contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to global greenhouse gas emissions and the region's high vulnerability to climate impacts, which informs discussions on historical responsibility and the distribution of SRM risks and benefits.
• Participants expressed concern that SRM could create a 'moral hazard' or divert political attention and resources away from existing climate commitments, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
• The workshop highlighted that short political cycles may hinder sustained engagement with SRM; consequently, some participants recommended the creation of long-term state policies rather than temporary government-led programs to maintain institutional knowledge.
• Effective future governance of SRM must be based on principles of climate justice, equity, and biodiversity protection, with a specific emphasis on obtaining free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous Peoples and local communities for research on their lands.
• Participants suggested that regional cooperation, including South-South and triangular South-South-North partnerships, could enhance capacity through shared data and synergies between research centers and universities.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). From Science to Policy: Navigating the Complexities of Emerging Climate Techniques in the Americas. http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/From-Science-to-Policy_-Navigating-the-Complexities-of-Emerging-Climate-Techniques-in-the-Americas-Outcomes-Report.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. From Science to Policy: Navigating the Complexities of Emerging Climate Techniques in the Americas. 2025. http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/From-Science-to-Policy_-Navigating-the-Complexities-of-Emerging-Climate-Techniques-in-the-Americas-Outcomes-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=From Science to Policy: Navigating the Complexities of Emerging Climate Techniques in the Americas |date=October 2025 |url=http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/From-Science-to-Policy_-Navigating-the-Complexities-of-Emerging-Climate-Techniques-in-the-Americas-Outcomes-Report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025from, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{From Science to Policy: Navigating the Complexities of Emerging Climate Techniques in the Americas}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/From-Science-to-Policy_-Navigating-the-Complexities-of-Emerging-Climate-Techniques-in-the-Americas-Outcomes-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }