When Colleen Golja, a climate researcher, took part in a war game to prevent a global race for a potentially dangerous planetary cooling technology, she was in for a shock. The simulation, titled ‘Exploring Geopolitical Tipping Points and Climate Cooling Strategies,’ brought together experts from across the world, only to find that international cooperation on matters of climate is far more complex than expected. The game’s backdrop, set against the backdrop of rapidly advancing private firms exploring solar geoengineering, highlights the urgent need for decisive action. However, the participants found themselves mired in distrust and disinformation, with no clear path forward.

During the first session, distrust and disinformation reigned supreme. Both the US and China refused to sign any deal that would constrain their research, arguing that such a deal would give their rivals an unfair technological edge. When an “intelligence report” suggested Chinese involvement in US research, tensions escalated, with the US accusing Russia of disinformation. Meanwhile, China attempted to insert language into a proposed deal to avoid retroactive punishment for past experiments, leading to further disputes. The US, convinced of Chinese intentions, demanded an international investigation, causing countries to abandon the talks.

Despite the game's structured format, the participants struggled to make any progress. Danielle Young, the assistant professor who arranged the war game, highlighted the complexity of the issue, stating that decisions about governing this technology need to be made much sooner than most policymakers anticipate. The game's outcome was not a victory for any single country, but rather a demonstration of the challenges in achieving global cooperation on climate issues. The US emerged with a sense of victory, but the reality is that the game revealed the deep-seated mistrust and the difficulty in reaching an agreement.