Programme to explore whether approaches designed to delay, or avert, climate tipping points could be feasible, scalable, and safe.
ARIA (the UK’s Advanced Research and Innovation Agency) has launched a call for proposals to a funding programme to answer the most critical technical and fundamental questions on the practicality, measurability, controllability, and likely side-effects of approaches that might one day be used to actively cool the Earth.
R&D Creators – individuals and teams that ARIA will fund – will need to demonstrate how their projects align with this goal and contribute to the broader ambition of developing a strong predict / test / monitor / validate loops for a range of approaches. ARIA expects to fund research across the full range of science and engineering disciplines.
In tandem, ARIA expects to support projects in the social sciences that are of direct relevance to approaches for actively cooling the Earth – such as consideration of public perception, potential legal, ethical, regulatory and governance frameworks, ethics, community engagement, and the economic or broader societal impact of those approaches.
There will be a single call for proposals, with applicants able to request funding for durations ranging from a few weeks to five years. ARIA aims to be as flexible as possible with funding and to make additional funds available to successful projects. The total budget is £56.8 million and up to 100 per cent of costs can be covered – there is no match funding requirement.
Find out more about the Exploring Climate Cooling programme and how to apply.
Applications will close at midday on Monday 9 December 2024.
First published 28 November 2024
