As world leaders congregate in Paris for the UN Climate Conference, a special report in the Economist discusses some novel technical solutions, which, if implemented, could pave the way to stopping global warming and reducing carbon emissions. One solution called “geo-engineering” involves the direct capturing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through the use of plants specifically grown in power stations. The carbon dioxide will then be processed in these stations, which will then ultimately bury the gas under the ocean. Currently, a Canadian firm, Carbon Engineering, has already opened a pilot power station which is exploring this solution.
Other techniques, the Economist said, include dropping large amounts of carbon-absorbing elements like olivine, lime or limestone into oceans and also using iron to stimulate algae that will then feed on carbon dioxide. But this will involve corporations and governments working together on a large scale. Another more radical solution is cooling down the globe through the use of ships. Nozzles within the ships will produce tiny droplets of seawater which will then cool down the climate by evaporating and “brightening” the clouds overhead. These clouds will then become more reflective, cutting down on global warming. For this to succeed, though, ships would continuously need to move up and down oceanic areas such as off the west coast of Africa — a difficult and time-consuming exercise.
Critics argue such techniques are costly and, if employed, remove the moral responsibility on countries to cut emissions. But while these criticisms are valid there is no harm trying them out. Costs of carbon removal methods may come down in time and if one country adopts such measures successfully, it might persuade others to follow suit. Currently, the global climate talks, as they are, are not working. It may now be time to look at alternative solutions.