Toronto, Sep 25 - Capturing carbon directly from the air is the only way to prevent dangerous climate changes, says a pioneering Canadian scientist.

University of Calgary scientist David Keith says governments need to earmark more research funding for technologies to capture carbon dioxide in surrounding air to save the planet. Keith has successfully tested an air capture technology last year. The market for carbon capture technologies is estimated to reach $1 billion a year within 20 years.

In a paper published in Science journal Thursday, he says technology could efficiently reduce carbon dioxide emissions from sources such as airplanes and home furnaces.

The Canadian scientist says these 'mobile'' and 'diffuse'' sources (including homes and airplanes) account for more than half of the greenhouse gases emitted on the plant.

'Over the long run, the ability to remove carbon dioxide from the air should be viewed as an essential tool in our kit for managing carbon-climate risks,'' says Keith, who hold the Canada Research Chair in Energy and the Environment.