Note that first-order priorities for MCB in general apply here. The first-order priorities listed below are for Arctic-specific deployment, and not MCB in general.

• Determine if susceptible clouds exist at a large enough scale within the Arctic region to have a local effect (Diamond et al. 2022).
• SRM simultaneously alters top of atmosphere (TOA) and surface radiation. Global cooling or warming is mostly based on TOA effects, but Arctic/regional effects will depend a lot on the surface forcing, including sea ice melting. How can we better estimate the impacts on sea ice?
  • Even if MCB works over open ocean, if it increases cloud lifetime and leads to more low clouds overlying sea ice (where they have almost no albedo effect but do emit downwelling LW radiation), would this undo positive effects and even lead to sea ice loss?
• MPCT would only be effective in winter. Would it be useful to pair this technology with Arctic-focused MCB?
• A comprehensive assessment of the potential co-benefits and risks of this approach is needed.

Note that first-order priorities for MCB in general apply here. The first-order priorities listed below are for Arctic-specific deployment, and not MCB in general.

• A multilateral governance framework for small-scale outdoor experiments with development of norms, guidelines, and codes of conduct (UNEP 2023). See the research governance framework detailed in Jinnah et al. (2024a).
• Further development of what priorities look like in different places for different actors will be needed.

Note that first-order priorities for MCB in general apply here. The first-order priorities listed below are for Arctic-specific deployment, and not MCB in general.

• Promotion of an inclusive conversation about SRM specific to the Arctic.
• UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology’s (COMEST) 2023 Report on the ethics of climate engineering has a slate of recommendations related to SRM covering governance, participation and inclusion, role of scientific knowledge and research strengthening capacity, and education, awareness, and advocacy.
• Public engagement, education, and town halls about all aspects of the approach need to be developed and implemented in parallel with research in order to determine whether this approach can be implemented.
• Follow core engagement principles identified by the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx) advisory committee (Jinnah et al. 2024a):
  • Start engagement efforts as early as possible.
  • Include social scientists with engagement expertise on research teams during the research design process.
  • Don’t presuppose what communities will be concerned about.
  • Develop a plan to be responsive to community concern.