U.S. Must Lead on Solar Radiation Management Technology or Risk Strategic Vulnerability to China
Washington, D.C. — A new report from the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) Center for Policy Research warns that Solar Radiation Management (SRM) — technologies designed to reflect sunlight and cool the planet — is rapidly emerging as a national security issue that requires immediate U.S. leadership. The report, The National Security Case for U.S. Leadership in SRM Technology, authored by ACCF President and CEO George David Banks, finds that SRM presents both strategic risks and geopolitical consequences if left ungoverned.
“SRM is no longer a fringe scientific idea; it is an emerging strategic domain,” said Banks. “If the United States fails to lead in shaping transparent, science-based governance, others will set the rules in ways that may not align with American interests. Therefore, governance must move ahead of capability to establish democratic norms before the technology matures.”
The report warns that China’s expansive weather modification programs — the largest in the world — combined with its Military-Civil Fusion strategy and other advancements, including in AI, heighten concerns about the future trajectory of SRM technologies.
Chinese civilian climate research, particularly in high-altitude aerosol modeling and atmospheric intervention, could be integrated into military modernization efforts. Under Beijing’s Military-Civil Fusion framework, civilian scientific advancements can be rapidly incorporated into defense applications without clear boundaries.
The report’s topline findings include:
- SRM is a dual-use technology with strategic implications. Large-scale atmospheric interventions could alter precipitation patterns, disrupt agriculture, and create geopolitical instability if misused or deployed unilaterally.
- China’s expanding capabilities raise competitive concerns. China operates the world’s largest weather modification system and integrates civilian innovation with military strategy through its Military-Civil Fusion model.
- Global governance gaps increase instability risks. Existing international frameworks, including the 1977 ENMOD Convention, are outdated and lack modern verification and enforcement mechanisms.
- Core U.S. interests are directly implicated, including agricultural stability, Indo-Pacific security, intelligence attribution, technological leadership, and public trust in atmospheric science.
To protect U.S. national security and shape global standards, the report calls for:
- A federal SRM oversight framework led by EPA and NOAA to regulate research, monitoring, and permitting activities under transparent national standards.
- A G7+ SRM Governance Compact to coordinate allied transparency norms, modeling protocols, and oversight of any field experimentation.
- Modernization of international agreements, including updating the ENMOD Convention to explicitly address modern SRM technologies.
- Expanded U.S. attribution and monitoring capabilities through NASA, NOAA, and the Department of Energy to distinguish natural climate variability from intentional intervention.
- A transparent, federally coordinated SRM research agenda grounded in scientific integrity and public accountability.
“Proactive U.S. leadership can ensure SRM is governed by democratic values and global stability — not authoritarian opportunism,” Banks concluded.
READ THE FULL REPORT: The National Security Case for U.S. Leadership in SRM Technology
The American Council for Capital Formation Center for Policy Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan economic policy organization dedicated to educating the public about pro-growth policies that encourage saving and investment.
