The Degrees Initiative
Research & AdvocacyActiveUK-based NGO that claims to put the Global South 'at the centre' of SRM research. Geoengineering Monitor exposed it as 'Global Southwashing' — staff and decision-makers are dominated by the Global North, and 26 of 28 funded papers focus exclusively on SAI.
Key Facts
- Claims to center the Global South in solar geoengineering research — but staff, board, and decision-makers are dominated by Global North actors
- Funded 35 research teams across developing countries, with 4 new teams starting January 2026 (Cabo Verde, Jordan, Morocco, Congo)
- 26 of 28 published papers focus exclusively on stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)
- Studies use extreme worst-case IPCC scenarios to make geoengineering appear comparatively 'not that bad'
- Originally founded in 2010 as SRMGI (Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative) by the Royal Society (UK), Environmental Defense Fund (USA), and TWAS. Rebranded 2021
- Described by Geoengineering Monitor as a 'normalization pipeline' — a stepping stone to legitimize outdoor SRM experiments
- Funding presented as support for the South is used to strengthen institutions and authors based in the North
- 5 ARIA-funded project leads came to SRM through Degrees' initial support — a talent pipeline from philanthropic grants into government geoengineering programs
- Board chair Oliver Morton is senior editor at The Economist and author of 'The Planet Remade' — a book broadly favorable toward geoengineering
- African ministers at AMCEN (July 2025) issued an unequivocal rejection of solar radiation modification technologies
Red Flags
Global Southwashing
Analysis by Geoengineering Monitor reveals staff, board, and decision-makers are majority Global North. Funding claimed as support for the South strengthens Northern institutions and authors.
Source: Geoengineering Monitor: Global Southwashing investigation→Normalization pipeline for SAI
93% of funded papers focus on a single technology: SAI. Studies frame SAI against extreme worst-case scenarios to minimize perceived negative impacts. Acts as a stepping stone to open-air experiments.
Source: Geoengineering Monitor: Global Southwashing investigation→Billionaire-backed foundations with geoengineering deployment ties
Primary funder Open Philanthropy (Dustin Moskovitz, Facebook co-founder) has granted over $8M since 2015. Other funders have track records of funding open-air experiments and commercialization of geoengineering.
Source: Geoengineering Monitor: Global Southwashing investigation→Who's Behind It
Andy Parker
(British)Project Lead / Co-founder
Former director at Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Research Program. UK-based. Led the framing of SRM research as a Global South issue.
Follow the Money
Founded by Dustin Moskovitz (Facebook co-founder, $18B+ net worth) and Cari Tuna. Largest single funder of Degrees Initiative. Part of the effective altruism movement.
Other geoengineering connections:
• Primary funder of the Degrees Initiative's SRM research program
Connections
Open Philanthropy (Dustin Moskovitz)
Primary funder — $8M+ since 2015
[Geoengineering Monitor investigation]Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program
Co-founder Andy Parker was former director at Harvard SGRP
[Degrees Initiative team page]