Science as Policy: Solomon's Tang Prize Signals a Blueprint for Action

TAIPEI, Taiwan – June 15, 2026 – The Tang Prize Foundation today awarded its prestigious 2026 Prize in Sustainable Development to American atmospheric chemist Susan Solomon, a move that reverberates far beyond the scientific community. The foundation recognized Solomon "for groundbreaking advances and leadership in atmospheric and climate sciences that shaped global policy for Sustainable Development." While the NT$50 million (approx. US$1.6 million) award honors a lifetime of achievement, its true significance lies in the signal it sends to global leaders, investors, and executives: there is a proven, science-driven model for tackling planetary environmental crises, and Solomon was its chief architect.

Professor Solomon's work is the rare case where a single scientist’s research can be traced directly to a monumental shift in global policy and industrial practice. Her legacy is not just a collection of academic papers, but a healed ozone layer—a testament to what happens when irrefutable data meets political will.

The Scientist Who Solidified Global Policy

In the mid-1980s, the world was waking up to a terrifying atmospheric anomaly: a massive and growing "hole" in the ozone layer over Antarctica. While scientists had theorized that man-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were to blame, the link was not yet definitive, allowing for industrial and political inertia. Susan Solomon, then a young researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), stepped into this uncertainty with a novel hypothesis.

She theorized that the extreme cold over the Antarctic created polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), whose ice particles provided the perfect surface for chemical reactions that rapidly converted benign chlorine from CFCs into ozone-destroying agents. To prove it, she did something remarkable: she left the lab and led two perilous expeditions to Antarctica in 1986 and 1987. Braving frigid temperatures and harsh conditions, her team gathered the smoking gun. Their instruments detected levels of chlorine oxide—a key ozone-destroying molecule—that were 100 times higher than anticipated, directly correlating with the ozone depletion.

This was the moment of crystallization. Solomon’s empirical data transformed a compelling theory into an undeniable fact. "Her work provided the political cover and scientific certainty needed for leaders to act," noted one environmental policy analyst. It armed diplomats with the evidence required to overcome industry objections and forge the most successful environmental treaty in history.

A Blueprint for Success: The Montreal Protocol

Signed in 1987, just as Solomon’s findings were becoming widely understood, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer stands as a powerful signal of effective global governance. It established a mandatory timetable for phasing out nearly 100 ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs. Its success was not accidental; it was engineered.

The Protocol achieved universal ratification from all 198 UN member states, a rare feat in international diplomacy. Crucially, it included a Multilateral Fund to provide financial and technical assistance to developing nations, ensuring their transition away from CFCs was both feasible and equitable. This mechanism recognized that global problems require shared responsibility. The treaty was also designed to be a living document, allowing its scientific assessment panels to update and strengthen its provisions as new data—often from Solomon and her peers—emerged.

The results have been an unambiguous success. The ozone layer is healing and is projected to fully recover in the coming decades. Moreover, because many ozone-depleting substances are also potent greenhouse gases, the Protocol has had significant climate co-benefits, preventing what scientists estimate could have been an additional 2.5°C of global warming. It serves as a powerful case study in how targeted regulation can spur industrial innovation toward safer alternatives.

Beyond Nobel: The Tang Prize's Focus on 21st-Century Challenges

The decision by the Tang Prize Foundation to honor Professor Solomon underscores the unique mission of this award. Established in 2012 by Dr. Samuel Yin, the prize intentionally targets fields critical to the modern era: Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law. It seeks to recognize and incentivize work that directly addresses humanity's most urgent challenges.

With its substantial cash award, including a NT$10 million grant for research and educational outreach, the Tang Prize is more than a retrospective honor; it is an investment in future progress. The rigorous, independent selection process, which involves internationally renowned experts and Nobel laureates, lends it a gravitas that places it among the world's top academic honors. By celebrating figures like Solomon, the foundation elevates the role of scientists who bridge the gap between pure research and tangible public policy, a contribution sometimes overlooked by more traditional awards.

From Ozone Victory to the Climate Fight

Solomon's career did not end with the ozone layer. After joining MIT, her focus broadened to the even more complex challenge of climate change. In a landmark 2009 paper, she demonstrated that the impacts of carbon dioxide emissions are largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years, fundamentally reframing the urgency of climate action. This finding, combined with her leadership as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s Fourth Assessment Report, has cemented her as a pivotal figure in two of the most significant environmental battles of our time.

The parallels between the ozone crisis and the climate crisis are instructive. Both required a strong scientific consensus to spur action. Both demand international cooperation and mechanisms to ensure an equitable transition. However, the differences are stark. As one climate scientist noted, "The ozone problem had a handful of corporate culprits and available substitutes; climate change is deeply embedded in every aspect of the global economy." The sources of greenhouse gases are diffuse, and the political and economic hurdles are exponentially higher.

Even so, Solomon's work on the ozone crisis provides an enduring blueprint. It proved that global environmental catastrophe is not inevitable and that a combination of clear science, public engagement, and decisive political will can drive transformative change. Her recognition with the Tang Prize serves as a critical reminder that while the challenges of sustainable development are immense, the models for success are already in our hands.