AGILE INNOVATION

Technology can help us �ght Climate Change

The most cost-e�cient carbon-capture technology in the world is…forests. Recent scienti�c research con�rms that forests and other “natural climate solutions” are essential because of their carbon sequestering and storage capabilities. However, when you consider that 71% of all the man made carbon emissions are generated by just 100 fossil fuel companies, then the focus on reducing fossil fuel consumption is not misplaced.

Bill Gates is of the opinion that we don’t merely need a cut in global emissions but rather an ‘energy miracle’.

There are �ve areas where we can direct the focus of technology advancement to make that much needed energy miracle happen.

Power generation: We know that nuclear power is a way of producing electricity free of carbon emissions, but the challenge is in harnessing it in ways that are truly safe and cost-e�ective. Nuclear Fusion seems to be the answer. Fusion produces zero greenhouse gas emissions, it’s safe, requires less land than other renewable technologies and there’s enough to power the planet for millennia to come.

Transport: transport represents 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. But the demand for transport is only going to increase. We need much more e�cient batteries and much more e�cient battery-charging technology.

Food: About a quarter of all global emissions come from feeding the world’s 7 billion people, and part of that comes from the consumption of meat. One of the alternatives is to start producing lab-grown meat, and to produce meat substitutes that look, taste and feel like the real thing.

Manufacturing: Making the things we use every day puts an enormous strain on the climate – about 30% of emissions come from industry. But what if we could take those CO2 emissions out of the air?

Buildings: The greenhouse gas emissions of buildings are also signi�cant. We need lighting, power, heating and cooling whether at home or in the o�ce, at school or in a hospital. The combined emissions from these sources contributes almost 20% of global emissions. Part of the answer is to build smarter cities.

Promoting research and development of technology in these �ve areas is sure to make our miracle happen.

#technology #climatechange #solutionstoclimatechange #carbonemission