A 'Feasible' Engineering Solution to Global Warming

2 September 2009 - 8:00am

A new study from the UK Royal Society has determined that geo-engineering techniques are technically feasible approaches to address high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the resulting global warming.

The group of scientists is the highest profile organization in the UK to back the idea of geo-engineering, which proposes to use human-made and -built technologies to counteract rising temperatures. The group did, however, caution that the viability of these techniques should not dissuade governments from other policies aimed at cutting emissions and energy use.

"[T]hey also stressed that the potential of geo-engineering should not divert governments away from their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Suggestions range from having giant mirrors in space to erecting giant CO2 scrubbers that would "clean" the air.

Such engineering projects could either remove carbon dioxide or reflect the Sun's rays away from the planet."

Source: BBC, September 1, 2009
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The interdisciplinary nature of these challenges justifies a more decisive federal policy that helps metropolitan areas promote energy and location-efficient development.