Policy Hub
On 27 August 2009, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) published a report which argues for geo-engineering to be a potential component in the fight against climate change, emphasising that it could provide additional time to decarbonise the global economy.
In contrast to climate change mitigation (reducing the amount of CO2 each nation emits into the atmosphere) or climate change adaption (ensuring that critical assets such as power generation, transport links and water supplies are redesigned to protect against future changes in climate), geo engineering involves the use of technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere or where the planet is cooled by reflecting solar radiation back into space.
Of the many geo engineering options currently being examined, the report highlights what it considers to be the three most promising: artificial trees, algae coated buildings and reflective buildings.