
4. Other interventions
Private financing for Planetary Sunshades: A Timeline Approach
Christer Persson
Planetary Sunshades have many advantages as a Solar Geoengineering “insurance soluƟon”.
The expected total cost compares well to the 5 years of global Covid-19 response, while also
being possible to plan and spread over a much longer Ɵme span. SƟll, the cost level during
20-30 years of implementaƟon creates hesitancy that impedes necessary applied research,
and represents a poliƟcal risk if reliant on public funding.
An alternaƟve (or complementary), private, financing model for Planetary Sunshades is
explored, combining stakeholder contribuƟons with revenues from dual-use technologies
and spinoffs. Key stakeholders include e g the property and insurance sectors, already facing
mounƟng climate-related losses and shrinking markets. Dual-use/spinoffs oŌen create
considerably more value than the original R&D investment, parƟcularly in space applicaƟons.
A phased financial Ɵmeline over a century-long horizon is presented, supporƟng gradual
development, implementaƟon, maintenance and decommissioning of Planetary Sunshades.