Should we exploit the oceans to fight against climate change? Scientists lead the way

Many scientists have just signed a text in which they call for the launch of tests on the storage of CO₂ in the ocean.

With global warming becoming ever more noticeable, scientists are trying everything possible to provide a solution. To the point, as today with this proposal, of looking towards rather special storage places…

The ocean to the rescue?

Carbon dioxide, or CO₂, here is the enemy! To minimize the impact of human activity on the climate, we must reduce the release of this molecule into the atmosphere as much as possible, according to scientists. And if that weren’t possible, then it might need to be stored, although this method leaves some skeptics. Until then, solutions of this kind favored the burial of crates full of CO₂.

But there could be a much more spacious ground for such deposits: the ocean. That’s the opinion of some 200 scientists, who have just signed a letter calling for tests of releasing carbon dioxide directly into waters to see if such an endeavor could cause problems for marine life.

Caution, caution

Indeed, ” While methods of removing carbon dioxide from the oceans have enormous potential, they also carry risks », They explain. It is then necessary to know if we can use the very strong absorption potential of the ocean, which captures 50 times more CO₂ than the atmosphere, without creating a second catastrophe, after climate change.

However, at the moment, we know nothing. And that would be a shame, according to the signatories. ” Society does not yet have enough information about the effectiveness or impact of any specific approach, and therefore cannot make informed decisions about their widespread use », It is indicated in the document. Several big names have joined the initiative, such as the scientific advisor to the British government between 2000 and 2007 David King, or the former NASA climatologist James Hansen. So, good or bad idea?

Source : The Verge