Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 26th February, 2026, Deny, delay, downplay: How governments hide climate change intelligence

Posted: 26th February 2026

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February 26, 2026

Solar geoengineering is a potential range of techniques to increase the planet’s albedo, reflecting sunlight away from the planet and resulting in a cooling effect. (Photo by Bryan Goff on Unsplash)

Solar geoengineering doesn’t solve the human problem

Solar geoengineering is a set of techniques to cool the Earth that was initially conceived as a way to combat climate change. However, problems—like countries using it to wage war on one another—remain unsolved. Elizabeth L. Chalecki, Tyler Felgenhauer, and Burgess Langshaw Power explain why solar geoengineering isn’t just a physics problem. It’s a human problem. Read more.

Assad loyalists are regrouping. The world should help the new Syrian government destroy leftover chemical weapons—now

The danger of chemical weapons being used yet again in Syria is growing and channeling resources to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is not enough anymore, writes Gregory D. Koblentz. It’s time for nations to step up and start supporting the new Syrian government directly. Read more.

Deny, delay, downplay: How governments hide climate change intelligence

Last month, the United Kingdom was forced to release a climate report it had delayed sharing because it was “too negative.” The government faced significant backlash when the public discovered the report omitted grave warnings. The scandal led Rachel Santarsiero to explore a perplexing question: if nations shield their citizens from the reality of climate change are they essentially aligning themselves with climate denialism? Read more.

‘Agentic’ life sciences AI is exacerbating bioweapons concerns. Here’s what to do about it

Biosecurity experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the convergence of AI with the life sciences, writes Sarah R. Carter. Agentic AI systems that combine the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) and specialized biological AI may compound the potential for biological misuse. Read more.

VIRTUAL EVENT

President Trump and Iran: Understanding the Threats, the Talks and the Possible Strikes

Recent signals from the Trump administration, coupled with the most significant US military buildup in the Middle East in years, point toward a major escalation with Iran. This shift follows last June’s Twelve-Day War, and a surge of internal protests in Iran. On March 4 at 10:00 a.m. Central / 11:00 a.m. Eastern, the Bulletin’s Alexandra Bell will be joined by the Arms Control Association’s Kelsey Davenport and Sina Toossi of the Center for International Policy for an up-to-the-minute analysis of what is happening in and around Iran, and what might happen next. Register here.

NEXT GENERATION INITIATIVE

Calling rising experts—submit your writing to the Bulletin

In its Voices of Tomorrow feature, the Bulletin invites rising experts to submit articles or multimedia presentations addressing nuclear risk, climate change, or disruptive technologies. Voices of Tomorrow authors and multimedia artists are eligible for the Leonard M. Rieser Award which includes a $1,000 prize. Learn more.

Recent articles

• Russia calls it the ‘nonsense with a frog. The Navalny assassination is actually another chemical weapons violation
• Europe’s desire for strategic autonomy is a ‘fait accompli.’ It just needs to decide what that means
• Who were Richard Garwin and Hans Bethe? A response to the recent attack on their integrity in the Bulletin by Benjamin Wilson
• The reckless repeal of the Endangerment Finding
• What the end of New START means for Europe: Two views

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s worthwhile mentioning that Iran is already not enriching uranium and hasn’t been since the June war last summer when the United States pummeled Iran’s nuclear facilities and buried its enrichment program.”

— Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the Chatham House, “Iran reacts to Trump’s 2026 State of the Union, accusing him of “big lies” on nuclear program and protests,” CBS News

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