An interesting and theoretically simple geoengineering project:
The daring plan to save the Arctic ice with glass
Simple idea: take small, hollow glass beads (65 micrometers) that are very reflective and scatter them about in the arctic, particularly in areas where the ice is melting away down to dark water. Experiments have shown that a coating of these beads can save ice from melting away entirely in summer, Do enough of it properly, and you could in principle reverse the massive loss in sea ice that the arctic has been experiencing. The beads are chemically inoffensive (they’re just glass, little different from sand) and don’t seem to harm critters digestive tracts if swallowed.
A good run of the process would cost a few billion dollars a year. A fair chunk of change, but consider this line:
If Field’s strategy works as intended, “that’s wonderful,” Bitz says, “but I know that not emitting CO2 in the first place will work.”
Uh-huh. Well, the EU and the US are slowly turning off the CO2 spigot. Guess who’s not:
China is slowing their rate of growth, but they are still growing and are the world leader; India seems to be catching up. So… spend a few billion dollars a year on foamed silica beads. Apply as directed to the bald patches up north. And then bill China. Heck, make deliveries of a certain kilotonnage of the stuff a contractual obligation if they want to do business with the rest of the world, specifics based on their CO2 output.