Engagement at the society-science-policy interface at the German Environment Agency (using Solar Radiation Modification as an example)

On the interface between research, public relations and politics the German Environment Agency (UBA) is working. They offer evidence-based policy advice for decision-makers at subnational, national and international level, carry out tenders for research projects and publish information material for journalists and citizens. One of its fields of work is climate change. This work at the interface between science, society and policy is presented here using the topic Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) as an example. Climate change itself is a multilayered subject and the concept of solar geoengineering is accordingly complex, both in its atmospheric-physical basics and in social dimensions due to enormous risks. It takes transdisciplinary approaches to cover all facets of this sensitive topic. Hence, the number and financial resources of research projects on SRM are increasing. And yet there are considerable uncertainties and it is questionable whether these can ever be resolved. Furthermore, the undisputable risks of SRM would be sufficient to reject SRM and focus finance and attention fully on mitigation and adaptation. But, due to progressing climate crisis, the search for solutions continues and SRM is brought into play by individual researchers and thinktanks as a supposed techno-fix. As consequence, decision-makers are forced to formulate positions on SRM in political fora. Also, public institutions publish reports about SRM. Those recently gained media attention. Journalists might not always be able to adequately explain the complex interrelationships of SRM approaches in their media narrative, hence causing uncertainty among citizens. Here, UBA's information material on SRM is presented as a transparent source of information for journalists and citizens to make them aware of the potential risks associated with SRM and how it is used for science-based policy advice.