As climate change accelerates, a British startup has proposed a technological solution to recreate ice in the Arctic. However, this initiative is dividing environmentalists and scientists, raising ethical and environmental concerns.
A Technology to Thicken the Sea Ice
The startup Real Ice has been working for two years on an innovative technology to slow down the melting of Arctic ice. The concept relies on the use of submersible pumps that extract seawater from beneath the ice and bring it to the surface. As this water freezes, it would form a new, thicker layer of ice, more resistant to rising temperatures.
In Cambridge Bay, Canada, initial tests have shown promising results, with an additional thickness of 10 cm recorded in just ten days. According to Andrea Ceccolini, co-director of Real Ice, the project could cover over 600,000 km², more than twice the size of California.
To automate the process on a large scale, the team plans to deploy underwater drones powered by green hydrogen. However, the estimated annual cost remains colossal, ranging from 5 to 6 billion dollars.
How the Technology Works in Brief
- Submarine pumping: Extracting seawater from beneath the ice
- Surface accumulation: The water naturally freezes upon contact with polar temperatures
- Formation of thick layers: Creating ice more resistant to summer melting
The Risks of Polar Geoengineering
Geoengineering, or the intentional manipulation of natural systems to mitigate the effects of climate change, remains a highly controversial subject.
Several experts, like Liz Bagshaw, a polar change specialist at the University of Bristol, warn of unintended consequences. Some identified risks include:
- Ecosystem disruption: Altering ice thickness could impact the growth of underwater algae, essential to the food chain.
- Climate domino effect: Localized interventions could affect ocean currents and global temperatures.
- Technological dependence: A costly and unsustainable solution could divert attention away from policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
« These interventions are morally ambiguous and ethically questionable, » emphasizes Liz Bagshaw in a recent report.
A Debate Between Climate Urgency and Environmental Caution
Despite the criticisms, Real Ice defends its project, explaining that inaction would lead to even more dramatic consequences. The disappearance of Arctic sea ice accelerates climate change through a reduced albedo effect: less ice means less solar reflection, which amplifies global warming.
The impacts of ice melt include:
- Sea level rise: A direct threat to coastal areas
- Climate disruption: Impact on ocean currents and storms
- Decline of polar habitats: Species like the polar bear see their territory drastically shrink
The Future of the Ice Cap: Technological Solution or Collective Action?
While initiatives like Real Ice’s open up innovation pathways, they cannot replace the need for massive reductions in CO₂ emissions. According to the IPCC, limiting warming to 1.5°C requires a drastic reduction in global emissions by 2030.
Source: sciencepost
