In the wake of this troubling new data about ocean carbon absorption, a range of geo-engineering solutions are being hotly debated in the scientific community and piloted by eco-businesses.

CNN: Topical waters

In other words, a country would decide how its land-use carbon emission or absorption would be likely to change in future, and then to measure actual performance against that baseline.

BBC: Rich countries accused of carbon 'cheating'

In terms of "ecosystem services" the provision of clean water, the absorption of carbon, the creation of soil, the prevention of erosion Hawaiian forests dominated by alien tree species can perform better than the pristine habitats they replace.

WSJ: Ecology and Change: Nature Has No 'Balance' for Us to Keep | Mind & Matter

"If it is true that the mechanism is all about rays enhancing diffuse radiation, it would mean that 'global dimming' and 'global brightening' would have a big effect on tree growth and therefore on the absorption of carbon dioxide, " warns Ms Dengel.

BBC: Earth News - Cosmic pattern to UK tree growth

Ocean absorption of surplus carbon dioxide released by global warming causes acidification that jeopardizes plankton and, consequently, the entire food chain, not to mention the consequences of overfishing and pollution.

UNESCO: Published in Mainichi Newspaper on 14 May 2012.