美國前副總統高爾和維京集團總裁布蘭森爵士9日宣布「維京地球挑戰」獎，這是一項2500萬美元的全球科技獎，以鼓勵每年能從大氣層移除至少10億公噸二氧化碳的技術發明。
個人或團體所進行的開發研究，若每年能移除人為造成的溫室氣體至少10年，且不會造成抵銷作用的有害結果，這樣的商業可行性設計將可獲得「維京地球挑戰」頒發的2500萬美元獎勵。所達成的移除必須具有長期效果，並在實質上有益地球氣候的穩定。
在上週「政府間氣候變遷小組」（IPCC）所提的地球氣候在本世界末將上升6.4℃之後，「維京地球挑戰」緊跟著宣布。布蘭森爵士表示，如果IPCC報告的結果真的發生，我們地球上大部分的生物將遭受滅絕。
詳細辦法與參選資訊請見維京地球挑戰網站
Former Vice President Al Gore and Virgin Group Chairman Sir Richard Branson today announced the Virgin Earth Challenge, a $25 million global science and technology prize to encourage a technology that will remove at least one billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere per year.
The Virgin Earth Challenge will award $25 million to the individual or group who demonstrate a commercially viable design which will result in the net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases each year for at least 10 years without countervailing harmful effects. This removal must have long term effects and contribute materially to the stability of the Earth's climate.
The timing of the announcement of the Virgin Earth Challenge follows the announcement last week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that temperatures on Earth could increase by as much as 6.4 degrees C by the end of this century. If this were to occur, said Sir Richard, it would result in "most of life on our planet being exterminated."
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
