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These Proposed Manmade Islands That Recycle CO2 Could Be the Solution to Climate Change We've Been Waiting For
An ambitious idea.
As the climate change crisis grows more and more urgent, scientists are racing to develop ambitious ideas that will match the scope of the impending damage.
A group of Swedish and Norwegian scientists just submitted one of theirs.
In an article published to PNAS, the scientist propose developing millions of floating islands that would use photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into electricity. That electricity would then power the islands' technology to convert carbon dioxide gases from seawater into methanol fuel.
The report stresses the need for humankind to end CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning, the continues:
"[L]iquid carbon-based energy carriers are often without practical alternatives for vital mobility applications. The recycling of atmospheric CO2 into synthetic fuels, using renewable energy, offers an energy concept with no net CO2 emission."
It would take millions of individual islands with about 70 making up one facility, but the report's writers assert that it meets the urgency imposed by climate change, with about 3.2 islands putting enough of a dent in the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.
Some can imagine getting on board with the idea.
Human energy can be applied in such awesome ways. This is a really cool idea. Let’s also find a way to deal with t… https://t.co/CUgVKVdP7T— NOLA JT (@NOLA JT) 1559701177.0
@Newsweek 😲WOW....very interesting— RESPECT! (@RESPECT!) 1559737058.0
@Newsweek @clintontwalker2 Thank you for sharing. I haven’t read about this. Interesting!— Barbara kling (@Barbara kling) 1559740150.0
Others have questions.
@TimMelino Does not sound very convincing. What effects would such islands have on marine flora and fauna? What d… https://t.co/bUrgZguaGP— AProPos (@AProPos) 1559589501.0
@Newsweek Can we build them out of plastic bottles?— Greg Sachse (@Greg Sachse) 1559700259.0
@Newsweek @slebid8 Methanol? We can do better than that.— Darren Dawson (@Darren Dawson) 1559713047.0
@Newsweek What will be its impact on marine ecosystems? Has that been studied and factored in?— SanjayKumar (@SanjayKumar) 1559710738.0
Though questions are rampant, one thing is certain: extreme steps must be taken to offset imminent damage from climate change and human recklessness.