At MEER, our mission is to provide practical and scalable heat adaptation and mitigation solutions. Our materials feature a passive cooling system that promotes the health and well-being of people, farms, and animals while reducing global temperatures.
MEER (Mirrors for Earth's Energy Rebalancing) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to mitigating local and global temperature increases. Despite widespread awareness of the harmful effects of heat and the ongoing warming trend, the full potential impact of future warming has yet to be fully appreciated. This is particularly true concerning the eventual elimination of aerosols from coal plants and ships. These aerosols, while harmful, have been providing a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight back into space. Once these aerosols are removed, we face the possibility of an additional warming of over 1.2°C, which would be added to the already inevitable warming of 2-3°C. This trajectory could result in global temperatures rising by over 3-4°C.
MEER was founded to address these potentially catastrophic scenarios by implementing immediate solutions to reduce heat while concurrently working towards decarbonization. Our primary mission is to restore the Earth's energy balance by the end of the century, effectively combating climate change. Achieving this ambitious goal requires meticulous and comprehensive research, particularly in the field of Surface Reflection Technology (SRT). We proceed with caution, advancing only when data supports a viable and secure path forward. Although we recognize the urgency of the climate crisis, our actions are governed by the pace of our research to ensure safety and effectiveness.
To accelerate the scaling up of SRT, we partner with leading universities and organizations around the globe. We value feedback and hold ourselves accountable to the global community, inviting scrutiny and suggestions as we undertake this critical mission. MEER is unwavering in its commitment to creating a better world, where everyone can thrive. Our ultimate aim is to enhance the well-being of both the planet and its inhabitants, prioritizing their needs above financial interests. Through our efforts, we strive to foster a sustainable future that benefits all.
Vision
At MEER (Mirrors for Earth's Energy Rebalancing), our vision is to pioneer innovative and sustainable solutions that restore the Earth's energy balance, safeguarding our planet for future generations. We envision a world where human ingenuity harmonizes with nature, creating a resilient global community.
A Sustainable Future
We aspire to a future where global temperatures are stabilized and the adverse effects of climate change are significantly mitigated. We aim to reduce excess heat through cutting-edge Surface Reflection Technology (SRT) and other pioneering approaches, thereby preventing catastrophic temperature rises and fostering a stable climate.
Collaborative Innovation
Our vision encompasses a cooperative global effort, uniting researchers, scientists, policymakers, and communities in a shared mission. We seek to be at the forefront of scientific research, driving advancements in climate technology through partnerships with renowned universities and organizations worldwide. Together, we will develop and implement effective strategies to combat climate change.
Community and Accountability
We envision a transparent and accountable organization that values input from the global community. By fostering open dialogue and inviting feedback, we aim to build trust and ensure our actions align with the needs and values of the people we serve. Our commitment to accountability will reflect our rigorous research standards and dedication to ethical practices.
Well-being for All
MEER is dedicated to promoting the planet's and its inhabitants' well-being. We strive to create a world where every individual has the opportunity to flourish in a healthy and sustainable environment. Our efforts prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable populations, ensuring that our solutions are inclusive and equitable.
Inspiring Change
We envision MEER as a beacon of hope and inspiration, demonstrating that proactive and innovative actions can drive meaningful change. Through education and advocacy, we aim to raise awareness about the urgency of addressing climate change and inspire others to join us in our mission.
A Legacy of Stewardship
Our long-term vision is to leave a legacy of environmental stewardship, where future generations inherit a planet that is not only habitable but also thriving. By balancing technological advancements with ecological preservation, we aim to create a harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world.
Commitment to Excellence
In pursuit of our vision, we commit to excellence in all we do. From rigorous scientific research to the practical implementation of climate solutions, we will uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. Our work will be guided by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a profound responsibility to the Earth and its inhabitants.
Climate change
Through years of observation, theory development, and model building, scientists have gained a deep understanding of the Earth's climate system. It is now widely accepted that human activity, specifically greenhouse gas emissions, is causing climate change.
The Earth is experiencing a significant positive energy imbalance. This imbalance is storing 400 Terawatts of heat in the ocean and atmosphere, which is twenty times more than the energy used by human civilization. This has caused a warming trend known as global warming or anthropogenic climate change. Many researchers and the general public are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential for extreme weather events, heat strokes, droughts, crop failures, internal displacement, and ecosystem collapse. This phenomenon could cause widespread suffering within the lifetimes of most of the Earth's human population. We can confidently say that the impacts of climate change are already being felt and will only continue to worsen in the future.
Heat is the greatest threat
The adverse effects of climate change pose a significant danger to human health, particularly in regions where high temperatures and humidity prevail. Individuals residing in such areas without proper access to air conditioning are at an increased risk of developing hyperthermia, a condition that can prove fatal in severe cases. As temperatures increase, growing food and retaining freshwater become challenging, resulting in harsher living and weather conditions.
Unfortunately, a considerable percentage of the population inhabiting the Global South lacks access to electricity, making them more susceptible to the extreme heat effects caused by global heating. Furthermore, the urban heat island effect is exacerbating the health hazards associated with elevated temperatures for city dwellers, who are growing in numbers at an unprecedented rate.
Access to cooling is a fundamental necessity and a human right, particularly for those residing in exceedingly hot environments. MEER Cooling presents a sustainable solution that safeguards the environment while promoting individuals' welfare.
Development of MEER
In 2018, Dr. Ye Tao was in charge of a laboratory at the prestigious Rowland Institute at Harvard University. After hearing a proposal talk about tackling the climate crisis with phytoplankton, he began to reflect on the significance of his work in nanoscience and whether it would deliver the type of impact the world urgently needed.
His professional journey took a significant turn when he became acutely aware of the dire consequences of excess carbon in Earth's atmosphere. Driven by his passion for environmental conservation, he founded MEER (Mirrors for Earth's Energy Rebalancing) - an organization dedicated to developing nontoxic surface-based reflectors that can redirect solar radiation back into space. By doing so, MEER aims to counterbalance the greenhouse gas effect caused by carbon dioxide emissions and preserve life on Earth. In 2021, Dr. Tao decided to suspend nanoscience research in academia to concentrate on devising innovative solutions that prioritize the preservation of human habitat.
Organizations had not yet developed surface modification technology nor conducted large-scale experiments to assess the feasibility of adaptation and mitigation. MEER was established to address this knowledge gap by performing the necessary field research.
Presently, MEER is comprised of an international team of experts, including scientists, engineers, volunteers, project managers, students, and supporters. Our collaborative network is committed to critically advancing climate mitigation and adaptation efforts with a renewed and unwavering sense of purpose.
MEER has recently developed a state-of-the-art surface-based mirror array technology. This cutting-edge technology utilizes aluminum as the primary reflector, which is applied to PET plastic. The result is a highly-efficient mirror array with an albedo above 0.85. This feature makes MEER mirrors an ideal solution for various applications, including reducing urban heat, evaporation in farms, and water evaporation from reservoirs.
The MEER mirror arrays are not only highly effective, but they are also environmentally friendly. They can be fully produced from recycled materials, which minimizes the harm caused to the environment. The materials are readily available without the need for any new technology. MEER mirrors have strong local applications, but they also have the potential to make a global impact. At scale, they can reduce global temperatures by up to 2ºC, making them a key tool for combating global warming.
Community involvement
The climate crisis is particularly unjust because those who are least responsible for it suffer the most. Lower-income communities worldwide, especially in the Global South, are being hit the hardest by its worst effects. This is a clear injustice that needs to be addressed.
To effectively address climate change, fairness and equality must be prioritized. MEER has implemented a justice-focused strategy to collaborate with communities in the Global South and empower local individuals to take active and often central roles in developing our initiatives.
To promote fairness and reduce inequality, MEER makes sure to keep local communities informed throughout every stage of a project. This involves conducting surveys, holding community-wide meetings, and obtaining community approval before beginning any project. Additionally, MEER provides educational workshops to stakeholders to better explain the scientific principles behind our methods.
At MEER, we hire people to engage with the community and employ skilled workers and students from the area to help us manage research experiments. We also offer internships that teach advanced scientific techniques to local students, and we prioritize job opportunities for individuals from vulnerable social groups, including those with disabilities.
We aim to promote society's comprehension of passive cooling using surface reflection technology (SRT) and provide a platform for under-served individuals to express their opinions. Unfortunately, there is a lack of social science research on people's perceptions of albedo enhancement, despite the disproportionate impact of climate risks on these regions. Our organization, MEER, aims to bridge this gap by including the perspectives of underrepresented communities in the peer-reviewed literature.
Our strategy
Our goal is to reduce global temperatures and advance the study of surface albedo modification to understand the adaptation benefits and climate impacts of its widespread implementation. Local responses are diverse in different geographical locations and specific applications. We are currently conducting field experiments across various locations in the United States, Africa, and India. We will steadily publish the data in peer-reviewed journals, with thorough analyses and modelling support, to enable the development of a comprehensive plan and integrated model for deploying solar reflectors that can be used for both local adaptation and global mitigation.
At MEER, we understand the importance of balancing Earth's energy while respecting the limited time, energy, and material resources available. It's essential to consider the aerosol pollution in the northern hemisphere, which reduces global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space. If aerosol emissions were to suddenly fall, this temporary reduction, known as "global dimming," could disappear within a few months, leaving the Earth fully vulnerable to the suffocating heat of the global greenhouse.
MEER's strategy is unique in that it relies solely on recycled materials. The mirrors used in MEER are made of recycled materials such as aluminum, which is sourced from discarded cans, and plastic. This means there is no need to extract new materials from the Earth or manufacture new ones. There is already a surplus of aluminum and plastic that is discarded every year, which can be utilized to construct MEER mirrors worldwide. Unlike white paint that contains petrochemicals and harms the environment, MEER mirrors are made without petrochemicals. They are also less expensive to produce, with a current cost of $8 per m2 that we anticipate will decrease to below $1 per m2. Furthermore, MEER mirrors require less maintenance as they can last for decades without renewing. Rain and wind can clear most dust and debris from the mirrors, and occasional sweeping is sufficient to maintain them.
Collaboration
In order to successfully accomplish our objectives, it is of utmost importance to engage in extensive collaboration. We maintain close working relationships with the worldwide scientific community, with the intention of publishing peer-reviewed research that tackles critical issues. Furthermore, we form partnerships with local communities, governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and foundations to further our efforts and share knowledge. Our ultimate objective is to guarantee that our endeavours are deployed worldwide in a secure and responsible manner.
"Temperature rise: this is the biggest and gravest concern we face."
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