· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Wired or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Arctic Water Bank, a startup, plans to harvest and sell Greenland's glacier meltwater to global markets
• The company has government approval and aims to create jobs while mitigating global water scarcity
• However, concerns arise over environmental and logistical challenges, including shipping emissions and feasibility
🔭 The context: Greenland’s ice sheet holds 6.5% of the world’s fresh water, with 350 trillion liters running into the ocean annually
• While the startup promises a carbon-neutral project, skeptics doubt its competitiveness against desalination and the potential ecological impact
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While shipping meltwater may offer temporary relief for water-stressed regions, it poses ethical concerns—exporting water from rapidly melting glaciers driven by climate change caused by wealthier nations
⏭️ What's next: Arctic Water Bank needs an Environmental Impact Assessment before constructing its dam and shipping facilities
• It must also address the technological challenges of creating carbon-neutral shipping solutions
💬 One quote: “Would the climate improve if we didn’t take this water? No it wouldn’t. But with the project, we make sure that some people will get to drink some really good water,” says co-founder Samir Ben Tabib
📈 One stat: Greenland’s ice sheet contributes 21.3 billion liters of meltwater annually, targeted for this project
Click for more news covering the latest on carbon capture & storage
