21st Century Challenges

Britain’s ageing population

Read an introduction to the challenges and benefits of Britain's ageing population.

Fiddling With The Earth’s Thermostat

Scientists, including Obama's science advisor, get tied in knots over geoengineering.

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.

How to Fix a Climate Emergency

As forecasts for global temperatures grow increasingly dire, scientists are taking a serious look at an idea once considered crazy: reengineering the atmosphere.

Fertilising the seas opens up an ocean of opportunity for commerce

Many proposals to save the planet through geo-engineering are immensely expensive and futuristic.

Have your say - Engineering our climate

Tell us what you thought of 'Engineering our climate' event. Discuss the issues raised on the night by our panel.

Scientists urges big push into geo-engineering

Speaking at London’s Royal Geographical Society, leading Canadian climate scientist Prof David Keith said the time had come to invest intensively in geo-engineering research instead of waiting to see if efforts to cut CO2 emissions in themselves would avert catastrophic climate change.

Professor Steven Chu: paint the world white to fight global warming

Steven Chu, the Nobel prize-winning physicist appointed by President Obama as Energy Secretary, wants to paint the world white. A global initiative to change the colour of roofs, roads and pavements so that they reflect more sunlight and heat could play a big part in containing global warming, he said yesterday.

Carbon capture technology tested

New carbon capture technology is being tested for the first time in the UK on a working coal-fired power station.

China recruits algae to combat climate change

Chinese firm behind ambitious plan to breed microalgae in greenhouse with the potential to absorb carbon emissions

Just add lime (to the sea) – the latest plan to cut CO2 emissions

Putting lime into the oceans could stop or even reverse the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere, according to proposals unveiled at a conference on climate change solutions in Manchester today. Cquestrate is one of a number of so-called "geo-engineering schemes" that have been proposed to intervene in the Earth's systems in order to tackle climate change.

End of retirement age signal

The government has brought forward by a year a review of the default retirement age of 65.

Social care green paper: reaction in quotes

The government has set out its blueprint for reforming care for older and disabled people. Key figures in the social care sector give their response

Interview: Ken Caldeira on geo-engineering’s possibilities and pitfalls

Atmospheric scientist Ken Caldeira first became known for his groundbreaking work on ocean acidification, a phrase originally coined as a headline for one of his papers. Of late, however, Caldeira's research has led him into the controversial area of geo-engineering — the large-scale, deliberate manipulation of the Earth's climate system.

Can we manipulate the weather?

Chinese scientists claim to be able to control the weather. But is so-called geoengineering more than wishful thinking? And, if so, should we be worried?

Tackling climate change with technology

Scientists have been looking for ways of modifying the Earth's environment to control global warming - it's known as geo-engineering.

Adapting to an urban future

Robert Neuwirth

Slums and the rise of the informal economy.

SPEAKER: Dr W. Ian Lipkin M.D

Tackling infectious diseases and helping bring science to the big screen.