Solar shield

Alternate timeline
(covers information from an alternate timeline)
Solar shield

Solar shields over La Barre, France

In an alternate timeline, solar shields were a technology installed on Earth by the Confederation of Earth to stave off environmental catastrophe, as the Humans there had never resolved the ecological damage being caused by their development. After transporting Jean-Luc Picard to the alternate 2401, Q described the shields as keeping the planet "on life support". (PIC: "The Star Gazer", "Penance")