ACIRH Fellow Christiane Coulibaly explores the possible implications for solar and wind energy across Africa.

By Wonder & Co.

This month, we sat down with Christiane Coulibaly, a fellow of the African Climate Intervention Research Hub (ACIRH) and research consultant at the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town.

Driven by the continent’s pressing climate challenges, Christiane hopes her research will provide policymakers with scientific evidence to weigh the possible implications of solar radiation modification (SRM) for Africa’s energy future, and that the Hub itself will help build scientific capacity on the continent so that African voices and priorities sit at the centre of global conversations about climate intervention.

Trained first as a physicist, she went on to earn a Master’s degree in Informatics for Climate Change through WASCAL (the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use). It was here that her interest in SRM grew; the program introduced her to climate modelling and large datasets, drawing her toward critical questions where rigorous evidence is urgently needed but still lacking for the continent. Today, that unique combination of physics, energy systems, and climate informatics shapes her PhD research on how climate interventions such as solar geoengineering could affect renewable energy across Africa.

How did you become interested in climate research, and what inspired you to pursue a career in this field?

I found my way into climate research through my academic journey. After completing my undergraduate degree in Physics, I was awarded a scholarship to pursue a master’s programme focused on climate change. This opportunity gave me a better understanding of climate science.

During my master’s, I learned about the climate system, climate modelling, and how to analyse large climate datasets. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became by the complexity of the climate system and the role science can play in understanding and addressing climate change.

This experience inspired me to continue my academic studies, and I am now a PhD student researching how climate interventions, such as solar geoengineering, could affect renewable energy across Africa. My goal is to contribute scientific evidence that can help inform future climate and energy decisions.

What is “solar geoengineering,” and why is it being studied as a possible response to climate change?

Solar geoengineering refers to a group of proposed techniques that aim to reflect a small portion of the Sun’s energy back into space to help reduce global temperatures. It is being studied as a possible response to climate change because, despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth continues to warm. It is important to emphasize that solar geoengineering is not a substitute for reducing emissions.

Researchers are investigating whether it could temporarily mitigate some of the effects of climate change. At the same time, many uncertainties and potential risks remain, which is why rigorous scientific research is necessary before any decisions regarding its future use can be made.

Your research focuses on Africa specifically. What makes the region’s renewable energy future so important to understand right now?

Africa has enormous potential for renewable energy, particularly solar energy, but also, in certain regions, wind energy. At the same time, the continent’s population and energy demand are growing rapidly. Expanding access to clean and reliable energy will be essential for sustainable development.

Climate change could affect the natural resources on which renewable energy depends, such as solar radiation and wind. It is important to fully understand these potential changes, as this can help countries make informed decisions regarding future energy planning and investments.

As an African researcher, what motivates me is knowing that this work can contribute to a better understanding of the continent’s energy future. I hope that my research will support evidence-based decisions that will strengthen both climate resilience and sustainable development across Africa.

Your research explores how solar radiation modification could influence renewable energy across Africa. Why is it important to understand both the potential benefits and the possible trade-offs?

Understanding both the potential benefits and the possible trade-offs is important because climate interventions could have impacts that go beyond reducing global temperatures. They may also influence sectors essential to society, including renewable energy.

My research explores how these interventions could affect solar and wind energy across Africa. While some regions may experience improvements in one energy resource, others could see reductions in another. This highlights the importance of looking at the bigger picture rather than focusing on a single outcome.

Ultimately, the goal of this research is not to promote or discourage solar geoengineering. It is to provide scientific evidence that can help policymakers better understand the possible implications and make informed decisions if these technologies are ever considered in the future.

As part of the ACIRH, you’re working alongside other African researchers on questions that have largely been studied from outside the continent. Why does it matter that this work is being led from within Africa, and what do you hope the Hub will change about how these decisions get made?

Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, yet it has often been underrepresented in research on climate interventions. Having African researchers involved is important because we understand the continent’s diverse environmental, social, and development contexts. This helps ensure that research addresses questions that are relevant to African countries and communities.

For me, the African Climate Intervention Research Hub is also about building scientific capacity and creating opportunities for collaboration among African researchers. By working together, we can strengthen research on the continent and contribute African perspectives to global discussions.

I hope the Hub will help ensure that future decisions about climate interventions are informed by evidence from Africa and include the voices of African scientists and stakeholders. Decisions that could affect the continent should be informed by research that reflects African realities and priorities.