What should we do?
People have already suggested that large scale ocean iron fertilisation could be used to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and it is currently possible for anyone to try to do this. However scientific studies show that adding iron would only reduce carbon dioxide levels by 16% at best. It would also change the ecology of the oceans and we don't know the long term consequences of this.
We all need to think about the implications of iron fertilisation as the ocean is so important to us and to our climate. Should individuals be able to add iron to the oceans or do we need international agreements between countries? Should scientists decide what to do or should the views of industry also be considered? Are there better ways to tackle the problems of global warming?
What do you think we should do?
About this page:
author: Dr. Lucinda Spokes - Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich - U.K. scientific reviewers: Dr. Dorothee Bakker - Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich - U.K. and Dr. Peter Croot - Institute for Marine Research, University of Kiel, Kiel - Germany. last updated: 2003-10-02
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