21st Century Challenges

Future of low carbon energy.

March 2008

A discussion on how global investment can be encouraged to forward low carbon technologies.

Watch the talks

Scientists issue warning that technology to beat global warming may backfire

Engineering solutions to modify the Earth's environment and climate may be necessary if humanity is to adapt to global warming, a group of influential scientists will say today. =

Necessity’s inventions

The infant science of geo-engineering – one that so many would gladly see strangled in its cradle – could grow into the best job creation scheme for universities ever invented.

Royal Society to research potential of geoengineering to limit global warming

The Royal Society has announced plans today to study which planetary-scale geoengineering techniques might play a practical role in stemming the worst impacts of climate change.

Farms to take heat out of warming

Farmers could help curb rising global temperatures by selecting crop varieties that reflect solar energy back into space, researchers say.

EU spending spree brings carbon capture closer to reality

Europe-wide plan proposes €1.25bn for carbon capture at coal-fired power plants; €1.75bn earmarked for better international energy links

Every silver lining has a cloud

Plans to engineer the climate may be less effective than had been hoped

Geo-engineering our climate

Can geo-engineering rebuild the planet?

As global warming worsens, the idea of vast projects to alter the Earth's environment is moving from fantasy to necessity.

What is geoengineering?

Read about engineering solutions to directly modify the Earth's environment and climate to help ease the warming of the planet

Sulphur screens

Could a screen of chemicals in the stratosphere help to cool the earth?

Fifth of world carbon emissions soaked up by extra forest growth, scientists find

Trees in the tropics are getting bigger, which means they are soaking up an extra 5bn tonnes of CO2 a year

Meet the panel for ‘Engineering our climate’

Read the biographies of the panel for 'Engineering our climate' event. Prof David Keith is an internationally renowned environmental scientist, based at Calgary Univeristy, Canada and Dr Paul Johnston, Head of Science Unit for Greenpeace International

Artificial trees and brightened clouds may help to cool us down

Techniques for geo-engineering are coming under serious scrutiny as temperatures and CO2 emissions continue to rise

Obama climate adviser open to geo-engineering to tackle global warming

The global warming situation has become so dire that Barack Obama's chief scientific adviser has raised with the president the possibility of massive-scale technological fixes to alter the climate known as 'geo-engineering'.

The emissions reductions gospel is failing – we need something more

NGOs who oppose geo-engineering are running the risk of climatic catastrophe

Engineers set to convert carbon dioxide into solid rock

Engineers in Iceland are set to convert carbon dioxide to solid rock as a way to tackle global warming.

Key role of forests ‘may be lost’

Forests' role as massive carbon sinks is "at risk of being lost entirely", top forestry scientists have warned.

UK set to miss climate change targets

The UK is set to miss climate change targets despite a reduction in greenhouse emissions caused by the recession, analysts have warned.

UK government to unveil plans for coal-powered future

Key to the plans will be boosting carbon capture and storage technology. CCS has the potential to capture 90% of emissions but has never been proven at commercial scale.

Budget 2009: Darling gives renewables a £5bn shot in the arm

British Wind Energy Association welcomes package, but planning and grid connections still restrict renewables revolution

Pollution ‘fights global warming’

Air pollution may be helping the fight against global warming by enhancing the ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide, scientists say.

Interview: James Lovelock on how to save Gaia

James Lovelock suggests that the technology for reversing climate change may be within our grasp

Clean coal push marks reversal of UK energy policy

Decision not to allow any new coal-powered plants to be built in Britain without carbon capture represents a major victory for the new Department for Energy and Climate Change and green pressure groups

Clean coal is future for energy supplies

Greenhouse gas emissions from new power stations will be collected and permanently stored deep underground

New coal power plants must capture carbon

New coal-fired power stations to be built in the UK must have carbon capture and storage facilities, the government said on Thursday.

Trees are growing faster and could buy time to halt global warming

Plants and trees are growing faster because of rising carbon dioxide levels, potentially buying Earth more time to address global warming, according to scientists.

Winds of change blow for offshore power operators

It's official: it's getting windier down south. This unexpected quirk of climate change has given a much needed boost to offshore wind-farm developers.

Britain’s only wind turbine plant to close

Vestas is to shut down its Isle of Wight factory in the face of collapsing demand from a wind-farming industry hobbled by the recession and red tape