Story By Linda Makau,
At a high-level workshop held on 28th October 2025 in Nairobi, policymakers, researchers, and climate experts gathered to discuss one of the most debated frontiers in climate science Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). The session, moderated by Elijah Bakari, Program Director at Emerging Climate Frontiers, offered an engaging and interactive platform to raise awareness about SRM concepts, assess regional implications, and explore Africa’s participation in global geoengineering dialogues.
The event, co-organized by Emerging Climate Frontiers, the University of Nairobi, and the African Climate and Development Initiative, aligned with the broader goals of the Simons Project , a research initiative seeking to improve understanding of climate interventions and their potential implications for vulnerable regions like Africa.
Dr. Franklin Opijah , a professor of meteorology at UON, emphasized that the workshop was not intended to promote SRM, but to create awareness and encourage informed debate. This distinction set a reflective tone for a day centered on understanding rather than advocacy.
Kenya’s Emission Landscape
Setting the context for Kenya’s climate challenges, participants reviewed a national emissions overview revealing that agriculture accounts for 38% of Kenya’s greenhouse gas emissions, followed by energy and industry (24%), transport (18%), land use, land-use change, and forestry (13%), and waste (7%). These figures underscore the country’s heavy reliance on agriculture, which remains both a key economic pillar and the largest emissions contributor due to livestock and crop production. Energy and industrial processes contribute nearly a quarter of emissions, largely from electricity generation and manufacturing, while transport-related emissions continue to rise with increased freight and urban mobility.
The data presentation framed Kenya’s emissions as predominantly sectoral, demanding targeted mitigation measures across agriculture, transport, and energy. As one speaker noted, understanding these sectoral contributions is vital to crafting effective Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) policies and climate action strategies that reflect Kenya’s development needs.
Understanding SRM: Concepts and Regional Relevance
Dr. Romaric, a leading researcher on climate systems, delved into the concepts and issues surrounding SRM, describing it as a set of proposed technologies aimed at reflecting a portion of incoming solar radiation back into space to cool the planet. He explained that while SRM could theoretically reduce global temperatures, it does not address root causes such as greenhouse gas concentrations, nor does it mitigate issues like ocean acidification.
Dr. Romaric highlighted the scientific, ethical, and governance dilemmas surrounding SRM. “The science is still uncertain, and its deployment could have uneven regional impacts,” he observed. “That is why Africa’s voice must be part of the global conversation.” His presentation invited lively interaction from participants who expressed concern about the potential for geoengineering dependency, policy manipulation, and unequal risk distribution across regions.
Regional Experiences and Modeling Insights
From a regional perspective, Dr. Kouadio shared insights from Côte d’Ivoire, emphasizing that discussions around SRM must consider Africa’s unique vulnerability to climate extremes. He presented findings on how shifts in solar radiation could alter rainfall patterns, possibly amplifying droughts in already arid areas or flooding in tropical zones. His analysis reinforced the need for localized research and regional collaboration before any form of SRM testing or implementation.
In the same vein, Dr. Franklin Opijah, a professor, presented a simulated impact study on how SRM might influence flooding patterns in Eastern Africa. Using climate modeling tools, he demonstrated possible scenarios under different SRM configurations. Notably, his presentation included snippets from media coverage illustrating public misperceptions of SRM as a quick-fix solution, a notion he strongly refuted. Dr. Opijah urged the audience to see SRM as a potential area for research, not a substitute for emission reduction and adaptation.
Policy and Governance Dimensions
The policy segment, led by Brian Kithinji and Ms. Eunice Oyule, explored governance frameworks and ethical considerations of SRM in relation to African climate priorities. They argued that while SRM could feature in future climate strategies, Africa must first build technical capacity, policy coherence, and public literacy around geoengineering. Ms. Oyule underscored that “African policymakers must not find themselves reacting to global SRM decisions they should be part of shaping them.”
This position resonated with the objectives of the Simons Project, which include enhancing understanding of SRM science, assessing Africa’s participation in global SRM dialogues, and evaluating the potential risks and opportunities for the continent. Participants agreed that effective policy engagement requires bridging knowledge gaps among decision-makers, researchers, and civil society.
Conclusion: Awareness Before Adoption
In his closing remarks, Dr. Opijah reiterated the workshop’s intent: to educate, not endorse. “We are here to raise awareness and strengthen Africa’s ability to make informed choices in future climate interventions,” he stated. The discussions throughout the day echoed this principle that Africa’s climate future should be shaped by informed, inclusive, and ethical decision-making rather than external technological imposition.
As Kenya continues to confront rising emissions from agriculture, industry, and transport, initiatives like this SRM awareness workshop provide an essential bridge between scientific research and policy action. They remind stakeholders that while innovation holds promise, transparency, inclusivity, and precaution must guide every step toward addressing the climate crisis.
More from the Workshop
