Ensuring a Safe and Secure Planet
We need better information and new approaches for near-term Earth system risks, to ensure economic and global security and protect communities and natural lands.
Earth System Risk
Rising meteorological extremes pose risks to energy security, economic competitiveness and public safety.
Protecting the Atmosphere
Scientists have proposed methods to reduce heat and other risks in the atmosphere by reflecting sunlight from particles and clouds. Today we lack the scientific information and monitoring capabilities needed for the world to ensure our safety and security.
We are filling a critical gap in the response to Earth system changes.
Our Challenge
Changes in the atmosphere and weather extremes pose risks to our communities and natural lands. Uncertain warming and other effects of changes in global pollution and proposed methods for reducing warming in the atmosphere require better understanding and careful monitoring, regulation and evaluation. Today, we lack critical data and tools to monitor and project changes in the atmosphere and their effects on the Earth system.
Featured
A Rapid Global Observing System for the Atmosphere
Leveraging commercial ships and aircraft in innovative public-private partnerships, we are rapidly scaling global observations of the atmosphere to support science and innovation for a safe and secure future.
Ensuring a safe and secure future for our communities and natural lands.
Our Mission
Ensuring a safe and secure future requires rapidly improving our understanding of the atmosphere and Earth system. SilverLining is dedicated to ensuring that society has the information and options needed to address near-term Earth system risk to protect our communities and natural systems for the future. This includes advancing our understanding of the atmosphere and potential human influences on it, including interventions to reflect sunlight. Like a medical foundation, we support research and innovation, policy advocacy and engagement — to ensure a safe and secure planet.
Featured
New Interactive Roadmap for Research
Escalating risks demand concerted efforts to better understand near-term Earth system changes and approaches to reducing warming directly by increasing the reflection of sunlight from the atmosphere. Our interactive roadmap is part of an evolving collaborative effort to chart a path to ensure a safe Earth system in time enough to matter.
Programs
SilverLining advances research and innovation to promote a safe and secure atmosphere and Earth system.
Safe Earth System Research Initiative
Advancing understanding and research for Earth system risks and possible responses.
Global Atmosphere Observations
Expanding critical atmospheric observations with instruments on existing ships and aircraft.
Stratospheric Aerosol Research
Improving understanding of stratospheric aerosol effects on the atmosphere and Earth system.
Cloud Aerosol Research
Studying how clouds respond to particles in the atmosphere and their cooling effects.
High-Altitude Balloon Observations
Navigable, high-altitude, long-duration balloons for stratospheric observations.
Cloud Computing
Partnering with cloud providers to expand cloud capacity and access for Earth system research.
U.S. Policy
Promoting a national research effort on Earth system risks and interventions.
International Policy
Promoting public sector investments, open science and international research cooperation.
Safe Earth System Research Initiative
Advancing understanding and research for Earth system risks and possible responses.
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Global Atmosphere Observations
Expanding critical atmospheric observations with instruments on existing ships and aircraft.
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Stratospheric Aerosol Research
Improving understanding of stratospheric aerosol effects on the atmosphere and Earth system.
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Cloud Aerosol Research
Studying how clouds respond to particles in the atmosphere and their cooling effects.
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High-Altitude Balloon Observations
Navigable, high-altitude, long-duration balloons for stratospheric observations.
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Cloud Computing
Partnering with cloud providers to expand cloud capacity and access for Earth system research.
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U.S. Policy
Promoting a national research effort on Earth system risks and interventions.
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International Policy
Promoting public sector investments, open science and international research cooperation.
Featured
New Issue Brief with Atlantic Council
This issue brief, authored by the Atlantic Council and SilverLining, examines solar radiation modification (SRM) approaches and research needs, the potential risks and benefits of SRM as a near-term Earth system intervention, U.S. and international policy options for governance and decision-making and global security issues.
Recent Publications and Media
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SilverLining is one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025
News Article, Mar. 2025
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AGU Films: How SilverLining is Studying Stratospheric Aerosols
Video, Dec. 2024
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BBC Panorama featuring High-altitude Observing Platform Explorer (HOPE)
Video, Dec. 2024
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NYTimes: The U.S. Is Building an Early Warning System to Detect Geoengineering
News Article, Nov. 2024
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Issue Brief with Atlantic Council: Accelerating Earth System Intervention Research to Improve Global Security
Issue Brief, Oct. 2024
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On World Ozone Day, there is HOPE: A new platform for observing the stratosphere
SilverLining Insights, Sept. 2024
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The Washington Post: We’ve been accidentally cooling the planet — and it’s about to stop
News Article, Jun. 2024
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Sarah Doherty: How aerosols brighten clouds — and cool the planet
TED Talk, Apr. 2024
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Aspen Ideas Festival: Sci-Fi or Reality? Talking Tomorrow’s Tech
Video, Jun. 2024
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New York Times: The New Space Race is Causing New Pollution Problems
News Article, Jan. 2024
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“Cooling credits” are not a viable Earth system solution
Publication, Jul. 2023
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White House: Congressionally-Mandated Report on SRM
Report, Jun. 2023
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TED Talk: Emergency medicine for our Earth system fever
Video, Aug. 2019
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SilverLining Report: Near-term Earth System Risk & Intervention: A Roadmap for Research & International Cooperation
Report, Feb. 2023
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One Atmosphere: an Independent Expert Review on Solar Radiation Modification Research and Deployment
United Nations Environment Programme Report, Feb. 2023
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AGU Films: University of Washington Marine Cloud Brightening Project
Video, Dec. 2021
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NYT: As Earth System Disasters Pile Up, a Radical Proposal Gains Traction
News Article, Oct. 2020
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SilverLining Report: Ensuring a Safe Earth System
Report, Feb. 2019
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C2ES Paper: Solar Climate Intervention: Options for international assessment and decision-making
Publication, Jul. 2020
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SilverLining White Paper: Solar Climate Intervention: The case for research
Publication, Oct. 2020
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AWS On Air ft. Advancing Earth System Research with AI
Video, Jun. 2022
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80,000 Hours: Kelly Wanser on Whether to Intervene Directly in the Earth System
Podcast, Mar. 2021
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Seattle Times: UW studies a drastic way to cool a warming planet — cloud ‘brightening’
News Article, Apr. 2024
Funders and Partners
Highlighting some of SilverLining’s key partners and funders
Help with critical efforts on Earth system safety and security.
To ensure a safe Earth system for the future, SilverLining works to rapidly advance understanding of near-term risks and possible responses. We need your help.
To connect with us regarding a grant or donation, email development (at) silverlining.ngo
To mail a gift, send checks to: SilverLining, 500 N Capitol St. NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20001
“We are in a life-or-death struggle for our own safety today and our survival tomorrow.”
-U.N. Secretary- General Antonio Guterres
“It will be necessary to take temporary corrective measures almost surely including temporary purposeful use of aerosols to avoid catastrophic implications.”
Climate scientist and activist Jim Hansen
“All too frequently, solar climate intervention is discussed among those who will not live to see the worst impacts of climate change… We must move forward on research and dialogue on this topic with a sense of urgency.”
Youth Call to Action on Solar Climate Intervention
“The removal of air pollution, either through air quality measures or because combustion processes are phased out to get rid of CO2, will result in an increase in the resulting rate of warming,”
Joeri Rogelj, Director of Research, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London
