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In The NewsIce911 has been nominated for the Tech Museum's annual international awards program that honors innovators from around the world who are applying technology to benefit humanity. Follow this link for a blog on Ice911 by Jim Fruchterman, President of Benetech. Arctic ice "is at tipping point"
August 28, 2008 |
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Global climate change is occurring. Are there any short-term yet reversible measures we can take to reduce future ecological damage while longer-term solutions are researched and developed?
Enter Ice911:
Ice911 Research Corporation's charitable mission is the development and rigorous scientific evaluation of an engineering approach to slow one of the far-reaching effects of global warming. The technique preserves polar and glacial ice and polar habitat using a localized and ecologically respectful “planetary band-aid” that can be put in place quickly - and that can be removed once it's no longer needed.
"There is no question in my mind that Dr. Field's work is one of the half dozen or so most important research projects underway globally on mitigating climate change - measured by ability to provide large scale (as opposed to marginal) leverage on the problem. The reason for its importance stems from the dearth of options to control warming already underway from CO2 emissions. "
Armond Cohen, Executive Director Clean Air Task Force
Ice911 is an engineering approach to reduce the melting of the ice. It is a solution that can be rapidly implemented. It has the potential to slow down the melt, provide interim mammal habitat, and perhaps even rebuild the ice.
"The polar bears are in real trouble, but this project gives me hope."
Professor Terry Root, Woods Institute, Stanford
The consequences of letting the ice continue to melt include:
- destruction of habitat and possible extinction for polar bears and other mammals
- a positive feedback loop, leading to faster ocean heating as more ice melts
- the ice-albedo feedback effect is estimated to account for 20% of global warming
- changes in currents, leading to further widespread changes in climate
- rising sea levels from oceanic temperature rise and glacial ice melt
By acting to slow down the melt now, we give ourselves the chance to reduce future ecological damage. The short-term Ice911 solution is meant to give the world critically needed time to develop and implement the longer-term solutions of energy efficiency and sustainable energy alternatives.
Ice911 Research Corporation has been formed as a charitable initiative to conduct the research, development and testing to accomplish these goals.