Climate War Games: Geoengineering Race Ignites

A recent war game simulation in London, involving international relations experts, scientists, and former officials, aimed to test global responses to solar radiation modification technologies—methods designed to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight. Climate researcher Colleen Golja observed that scientific reasoning was largely ignored as participants prioritized national interests, leading to distrust and failed negotiations. The simulation, set in September 2027 and 2028, escalated tensions between countries like the US and China, mirroring real-world concerns about a potential geoengineering arms race.

Despite the clear risks of solar geoengineering, including unpredictable side effects and potential regional disparities, the simulation demonstrated a strong drive for research and development driven by competition. Discussions were frequently derailed by geopolitical posturing and disinformation, even as fictional climate disasters were announced. Ultimately, the simulation concluded that strategic competition and state sovereignty, not climate concerns, dominated the interactions among the represented nations.