Geoengineering islands to stop ice melt flowing into the sea

Scientists based in Finland and the US are suggesting radical solutions such as building artifical islands to block the flow of melt water from Antarctic glaciers reaching the sea. They believe that this geoengineering is the best solution to prevent millions of people being displaced as sea levels rise due to climate change. In their article in Nature, 14 March 2018, they ask some challenging questions. “Is allowing a ‘pristine’ glacier to waste away worth forcing one million people from their homes? Ten million? One hundred million? Should we spend vast sums to wall off all the world’s coasts, or can we address the problem at its source? Geoengineering is a political and societal choice, because people’s reactions depend on how the issue is framed. Buttressing of glaciers needs a serious look.” Read more in Nature and in the UK Guardian newspaper story.