MEER Update 2023

Join the Climate Emergency Forum as it welcomes back Dr. Ye Tao, founder of the MEER project, to get an update of its activities and progress in 2023. The dialog reveals MEER’s mission, progress, challenges, and its broader impact on communities and scientific education.

This video was recorded on December 4th, 2023, and published on January 3rd, 2024.

MEER, which stands for Mirrors for Earth’s Energy Rebalance, aligns with Dr. James Hansen’s recent paper on Global Warming in the Pipeline and seeks to provide a way of addressing the problem.

Dr. Tao explains his motivation for starting the MEER project, emphasizing the urgency of tackling climate issues. He highlights the potential impact of legacy greenhouse gases and the need for solutions. The discussion touches on the Faustian bargain of aerosols and their role in temperature rise. Dr. Tao shares insights from experiments in Sierra Leone, where rooftop mirrors have demonstrated significant cooling effects on buildings, positively impacting residents’ lives.

The conversation extends to challenges faced during MEER experiments, such as the need for high-quality data and community engagement. Dr. Tao emphasizes the importance of educating the community, involving children in workshops, and providing them with opportunities to learn about science and technology.

Furthermore, Dr. Tao introduces a related project aimed at addressing water safety issues, inspired by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He describes a device that utilizes sunlight to heat water, reaching sterilization temperatures and offering a potential solution for regions lacking access to clean drinking water.

Dr. Tao concludes by sharing his vision for worker-owned enterprises, incorporating artistic expression, and generating revenue to support basic needs such as clean water, food, and education in vulnerable communities.

Special Guests:

Dr. Ye Tao - founded MEER, Mirrors for Earth’s Energy Rebalancing, in 2020 after grasping the accelerating and ultimate consequences of the climate crisis on Earth’s delicate web of life. Educated as a nanotechnologist and instrumentation expert, he brings the benefits of a multidisciplinary background in engineering and science to problem solving.

Program Host and Video Co-producer:

Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

Video Production:

Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP28 Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.