Terraforming: The Virgin Earth Challenge

February 9, 2007 – Vol.11 No.46

TERRAFORMING: THE VIRGIN EARTH CHALLENGE.

Here’s your chance to save the planet and help build a multimillion dollar a year business while you’re at it. Find an economical way to pull greenhouse gases out of the Earth’s atmosphere and safely dispose of them.

Sir Richard Branson, head of the Virgin Group, has launched the Earth Challenge: A $25 million prize to the company, organization or individual whose invention will remove at least 1 billion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The Challenge - the largest scientific achievement prize ever - will initially be open for five years, with possible extensions. A panel of judges will review designs to determine if the technology is up to the task.

So put your thinking cap on.

This is not about sequestering carbon dioxide from power plants. This not renewable or efficient energy that reduces or neutralizes carbon dioxide emissions. This is about extracting greenhouse gas emissions from the air to reduce global concentrations. The whole planet. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and do something with it (make wood) on daily basis. Why can’t we, but faster and in large quantities?

Dr James Hansen, one of the judges and Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, thinks we have only a brief window of opportunity, ten years at best, to deal with climate change. The atmosphere cleaning invention is needed now.

If a winner is found Virgin will certainly lend a hand in commercialization. Visit the Virgin Earth Challenge at http://www.virginearth.com/