New Technologies to Reduce CO2 Emissions to Be Studied

Today scientists continuously try to develop and implement technologies that would lower the impact of global warming. The British Royal Society will analyze the possibilities of different engineering schemes that might eventually help reduce the effect of global warming.

A number of geo-engineering schemes were offered for investigations. One of them includes mirrors put into space and iron fillings in the ocean. Despite new developments, different environmental groups state that humanity must not keep their mind away from lowering the level of greenhouse emissions.

In 2009 climate scientists along with engineers will present their report on the variety of ways to reduce the impact of global warming. One of the schemes that involves mirrors that are put into space in order to reflect the sunlight away from our planet, seeding the Earth's atmosphere with particles which will have the role of planetary sun block. In addition, scientists want to use iron filings in order to excite the growth of planktons in the waters of the oceans so they could absorb carbon dioxide.

Professor Andrew Watson, from the University of East Anglia, said that some ideas could have repulsive side effects, some could be rather costly and some might not even work in real life, BBC reports.

"We feel that there's quite a variety of these schemes out there now and increasing interest in them. And it's time there was an authoritative scanning of the horizon to see which of these might be useful and what more needs to be done," the professor said.

Not matter how crazy the ideas might sound, Professor Watson mentioned that the working group of scientists will not dismiss them. He considers that some schemes might in fact have the potential of lowering the level of CO2.

Scientists look forward to offer a helpful first step to identify the advantages and limitations of the proposed schemes and provide tips on those that deserve to be paid more attention.

"If the worst predictions of climate change are realized, what happens if, politically, we are unable to change our emission habits? As a last resort, we could turn to some of these possible methods. If we haven't done the research and properly evaluated these methods, that option would not be on the table," said Professor Watson.