artificial trees, definition of

"Artificial trees" are a geo-engineering solution that use amine solutions to capture CO2 out of the atmosphere and sequester it underground.

Also known as "air capture" or "carbon scrubbers", the technology is currently in its formative stages but researchers in the US estimate one tree could take as much as 25 times more CO2 out of the atmosphere each year than a normal tree.

A handful of startups are currently looking to bring the technology to market.

• Klaus Lackner’s Artificial Trees Soak Up CO2 Emissions Faster Than Plants
  As news breaks that global carbon dioxide levels are at an all-time high, one scientist is developing "artificial trees" to help cleanse the air and reduce greenhouse gas pollution...
• 100,000 Synthetic Trees Could Help Combat Climate Change
  The field of geo-engineering has launched all kinds of outlandish ideas for combating climate change, from dumping iron into the world’s oceans to shooting mirrors into space...