Decisions Shouldn’t Be Made in the Dark
Reflective is a non-profit research organization aiming to radically accelerate the pace of sunlight reflection research. We equip the world with the data and tools needed to make informed decisions about sunlight reflection, fast enough to matter.
Progress isn’t about rushing forward or freezing in fear. It’s about moving fast, responsibly.
Whether sunlight reflection ultimately proves helpful or harmful is an open question, and depends on how it might be deployed. It may prove too risky, unnecessary, or ungovernable. Or it may prove valuable as a temporary backstop.
We don't know nearly enough about it to make a scientifically-informed decision about potential deployment – and we’re not on a trajectory for rapid, legitimate decision making.
The only way to answer these questions is with data. Without it, we invite reckless ignorance. With it, we create the possibility of responsible action.
Our Work
We set and maintain a rigorous roadmap, pool philanthropic resources around those roadmap priorities, build tools that make the current research legible and that make conducting research easier and faster, and finally, we invest in building the field.
Uncertainty Database
The database identifies priority uncertainties, the activities required to reduce/resolve those uncertainties, and how the scale of proposed experiments relates to the thresholds at which physical impacts of SAI could be considered "major risks."
SAI Simulator
The simulator provides a fast, interactive way to explore the climate effects of different SAI deployment scenarios and compare them to the impacts of continued warming.
The Latest
- Featured
Funding Opportunity: Effects of SAI on Tipping Points & Climate Impacts
This two-part RFP seeks proposals to develop understanding of the interaction of SAI with (1) earth system tipping points, and (2) climate impacts. How can we safely experiment with reflecting sunlight?
Towards a Roadmap for Sunlight Reflection Research
Our Principles
We recognize that sunlight reflection research carries risk and that how we conduct research is as important as what research we conduct. The following principles are meant to serve as a north star for the organization as we engage in this work.
Responsible urgency
The impacts of climate change, on lives and ecosystems, are enormous and accelerating. Paralysis is a significant risk and demonstrating that serious, fast-paced sunlight reflection research is underway is one avenue to reduce the risk of irresponsible action.
Objectivity
If it is determined that sunlight reflection is a bad idea in terms of outcomes on people or the planet, getting to that clarity is a victory and we will CELEBRATE that outcome.
Collaboration
We believe in the idea that “if you want to go far, go together” and will work to collaborate widely.
Transparency
Our organization’s processes and research (progress, setbacks, uncertainties) must be public, understandable, and readily available.
Global
Climate change is a global problem, and SRM could be part of a global solution and thus requires global engagement.
Flexibility
We care about the activities on the roadmap being executed, as expeditiously and rigorously as possible, not who does them or how they choose to complete them.
FAQ
What is sunlight reflection? Is it safe?
Sunlight reflection, also called solar radiation management (SRM), is an emerging field of research into interventions that increase the amount of solar energy reflected back into space, avoiding warming and its global impacts.
Climate models have shown that sunlight reflection, when combined with emissions reductions, has meaningful potential to reduce near-term climate impacts. Despite theoretical reasons for optimism, evidence and data are still lacking. We still don’t know enough to make a robust scientifically-informed decision about the potential impact of deployment—and we’re not progressing towards answers quickly enough.What is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)?
Why are you focused only on stratospheric aerosols?
