A group of leading scientists is urging Britain and other countries to invest billions of pounds each year in research into technologies that could help lower Earth's temperatures and curb global warming. The initiative, led by Sir David King, the former chief scientific adviser to the British government, is seeking international funding of around £22.2 billion a year for research into methods known as climate geoengineering.
Among the more unusual proposals is the creation of artificially brighter clouds, using drones that would pump electricity into the atmosphere. Another idea aims to recreate ice in the Arctic, by pumping seawater onto the ice surface to encourage the formation of new layers. Scientists are also exploring the possibility of releasing small particles into the stratosphere, which would reflect some of the sun's radiation back into space. This method aims to mimic the cooling effect that is naturally caused by large volcanic eruptions.
Ice melt warning
The British government has already made £67m available to study new ways to tackle global warming, at a time when the country has been hit by widespread heatwaves and droughts. Sir David King argues that Britain is ahead of other countries in this area of research, but stresses that an international effort is needed. He mentioned Australia, France and Japan as countries that should join in funding the projects.
According to him, the situation requires urgent action, referring to the melting of ice in Greenland, where according to his estimates the losses reach about 30 million tons per hour. This process increases the risk of rising sea levels and threatens coastal cities. He also raised concern about the recent disasters in the Himalayas and the need to protect glaciers, which play a vital role in the climate balance. However, the British government has clarified that funding research into geoengineering does not imply support for the implementation of these interventions in practice. For the time being, the aim is to study the opportunities and risks that such technologies could bring to the planet's climate.
