Aerosol reflectors in space proposed as climate change solution

An U.N. body plans to develop a radical geo-engineering technology to blast aerosol "mirrors" in the space to tackle climate change, the Telegraph reported.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change papers were leaked ahead of the meeting in Peru, revealing various outlines of techniques to curb climate change, it said.

Other suggestions include painting streets and roofs white, growing lighter colored crops to reflect sunlight and dumping a large quantity of iron fillings into the ocean. Moreover, sending reflective aerosols into the stratosphere and spraying sea water into clouds are proposed by the 60 leading scientists.

The Guardian reported that scientists admit that they still face many uncertainties and risk involved in executing geo-engineering technologies. However, the meeting in Peru is scheduled to deliver governments with a scientific assessment of geo-technologies and gain financial support for large-scale experimentation.

Due to rising CO2 concentration and volcanic seeps in the ocean floor, IPCC predicts that worldwide ocean PH level will reduce from 8.1 to 7.8. The increasing acidity of the oceans is expected to make coral reefs extinct by the end of the century. The IPCC report comes at the urgent moment when a serious threat is posed to the basis of marine ecosystems.

By Jung Eun-jung
(kristin2j@gmail.com)
Intern reporter