Active banners: 0 Visible banners: 0
Reflecting Sunlight to Reduce Climate Risk
Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations |Published on: June 20, 2025
Scientific Reports
1112AP
Synopsis
- This report from the Council on Foreign Relations explains why there should be a coordinated, multinational effort to research the potential efficacy and ramifications of sunlight reflection.
- Students will learn about the push against this research, its importance, and how it may be a necessary measure to temporarily keep climate change impacts at bay.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
Authors: Council on Foreign Relations , Stewart M. Patrick
Region: United States, Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The bulleted list in the Recommendations section helps students see what measures the author calls for easily.
- This report is an excellent example of an eloquently written argument that addresses opposing concerns.
Prerequisites
- This video can help students build background knowledge about geoengineering that may be necessary for understanding the report.
- The 2022 invasion of Ukraine is referenced in this report. Students may need background information about this event.
Differentiation & Implementation
- For students with lower reading stamina who may become overwhelmed by the length of this report, teachers may want to tackle this report one section at a time. Each section contains an abundance of information, and younger students may need several class periods to read, discuss, and retain the information from one section.
- Students can take time to review the report collectively and independently to prepare for a debate concerning the proposed ban on research concerning solar geoengineering that the report argues against. Students can debate and discuss what types of research may warrant a ban, when a ban may be harmful, and which of these categories they believe this particular ban falls under.
- This report uses many acronyms that may be new or unfamiliar to students. It may benefit students to have a cheat sheet for these acronyms and other unfamiliar terms to refer to as they read the report.
- Political science students can analyze and discuss the potential geopolitical ramifications introduced in the report.
- This report makes recommendations for the Joe Biden administration. Students can discuss how the current political climate may impact the adoption of the recommendations.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations
CFR Education provides accurate, accessible, authoritative resources that build the knowledge, skills, and perspective high school and higher education students need to understand and engage with today’s most pressing global issues.
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
