The Solutions We Have and the Innovations We Need
Introduction
Electric vehicles and charging stations are an increasingly common sight in communities. © Getty Images.
Solutions to climate change are already all around us. More and more cars are electric. There are more solar panels on houses. Wind turbines are popping up in the countryside. Grocery stores are stocking more plant- based meat substitutes.
These everyday solutions are part of the real progress we’re already making. They can be divided into two types. There are solutions that increase mitigation. And there are others that aid adaptation. Mitigation solutions mitigate, or lessen, the climate change problem. They do this by reducing the release of carbon-based greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are the cause of global warming. Adaptation solutions reduce the harm caused by climate change. They help us adapt to, or adjust to, our changed conditions. Both mitigation and adaptation solutions have come a long way.
Just how much progress have we made? In 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued an important report. The report looked at the progress we’ve made in reaching a key goal. Scientists believe we need to limit global warming to an increase of 1.5° Celsius in average global temperatures. Otherwise, we will face terrible problems. The IEA said we now have technologies that will allow us to cut around 65% of the emissions we need to cut in order to reach that 1.5° C goal.1
This is a major achievement. In 2021, the IEA reported that we had only about 50% of the technology needed to limit warming to 1.5° C. We went from 50% to 65% in just two years. That is an impressive jump!
Still, 65% is not enough. To reach our goal, we’re going to need to develop new technologies and practices.
Let’s take a look at the climate solutions we have and the innovations we need.
The solutions we have
When it comes to reducing carbon emissions, the greatest progress we’ve made is in the area of renewable energy. Renewable energy is energy that comes from a source that cannot be used up, such as wind or the sun. The cost of renewable energy technologies like wind power and solar power has gone down steeply in recent years. Companies have learned how to produce solar and wind systems more cheaply. This has allowed them to lower their prices. Lower prices led to more use of these systems, which led to even lower prices. That in turn led to more use, and so on. This is known as a positive feedback loop. And the results are impressive. Today, solar power is the cheapest source of energy on the planet. Along with wind power, it is more and more widely used.
Other climate solutions have helped us adapt to a changing climate. Some of the best adaptation solutions are the simplest ones. For example, we can restore wetlands, which help prevent flooding. Other solutions can help protect cities. We can design buildings, roads, and bridges to better withstand extreme weather. Smart city planning can make a difference too. For example, cities can stop building along large bodies of water. Climate change can cause health problems. For that reason, vaccines and high-quality health care are also increasingly important adaptation solutions.
As this chart demonstrates, the price of solar and wind energy has seen huge reductions in cost in the last decade. The cost of fossil fuels, on the other hand, has remained constant. By Our World in Data, CC BY. Explore the article here.
Global installations of selected clean energy technologies, 2010-2022. These charts show the positive trends in adoption of four climate mitigation solutions. By IEA, CC BY 4.0. Explore the full report here.
The innovations we need
It’s wonderful that we already have so many solutions. But these solutions aren’t enough. We’re still going to need more innovation.
The development of new climate solutions is known as climate innovation. This innovation is not just about inventing new devices. It’s also about new approaches to government policies, business models, and systems. Innovation means both new technologies and new ways of doing and thinking about things.
What should the goals of innovation be? To start, we need to protect those whom climate change is putting at the greatest risk. We need to make sure everyone who lives in areas experiencing extreme drought, flooding, and severe weather has enough food and fresh water. This will require a wide range of agricultural innovations. We’ll need to develop high-yield, drought-resistant, and flood-resistant crops.
We also need to develop new technologies that will reduce the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere. The process of replacing carbon-based energy with other energy sources is called decarbonization. Switching to electric cars helps with decarbonization. But airplanes and trucks are still a problem. They are too big and travel too far to run on electricity. To power them, we need to develop hydrogen fuel and advanced biofuels. Steel production and cement production are also major problems. When steel and cement are manufactured, carbon dioxide is released. This happens as a result of chemical reactions that are part of the manufacturing process. So, we’ll need to develop entirely new ways of making these products.
At a plant in Germany, hydrogen fuel cells are being built for use in vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cells are lighter, more compact, and have greater range than lithium-ion batteries, making them promising solutions for transportation needs like long-distance trucking. © Getty Images.
What’s next?
To speed up the pace of innovation, governments and companies must spend heavily on developing new technologies. And when innovative new products become available, governments and companies must buy them. They must do this even if the products are expensive at first. This will increase demand for the products. And that in turn will lower prices for everyone over time.
But not all countries can afford to pay for innovation. We’ll need to help poorer countries adapt to climate change and decarbonize their economies. And that will mean giving them money. Wealthy countries like the US were most responsible for causing climate change. It has a responsibility to support poorer countries and help them deal with disasters. And the U.S. must make sure that poorer countries can continue to develop in a way that doesn’t cause more problems.
To ensure the health and well-being of everyone, we need to focus on both adaptation and mitigation efforts. And we need to make wise decisions. Our actions now will affect everyone’s future.
1 IEA (2021), Net Zero by 2050, IEA, Paris. https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050
Molly Sinnott
Molly Sinnott is a member of the Climate Project editorial team. She was previously a classroom reading and writing teacher, specializing in supporting students in executive-function skills development. She focuses on building approachable and inclusive content for a diverse range of students.
Credit: “The Solutions We Have and the Innovation We Need”, Molly Sinnott / OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/
Image credits
This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0 except for the following:
Cover image: Solar farm and wind turbines near the highway road interchange. © Adam Smigielski / E+ / Getty Images.
Electric vehicles and charging stations are an increasingly common sight in communities. © seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Moment / Getty Images.
As this chart demonstrates, the price of solar and wind energy has seen huge reductions in cost in the last decade. The cost of fossil fuels, on the other hand, has remained constant. By Our World in Data, CC BY. https://ourworldindata.org/cheap-renewables-growth
Global installations of selected clean energy technologies, 2010-2022. These charts show the positive trends in adoption of four climate mitigation solutions. By IEA, CC BY 4.0. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/7c02e774-9d1b-4398-9313-840913e1b4e6/NetZeroRoadmap_AGlobalPathwaytoKeepthe1.5CGoalinReach-2023Update.pdf
At a plant in Germany, hydrogen fuel cells are being built for use in vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cells are lighter, more compact, and have greater range than lithium-ion batteries, making them promising solutions for transportation needs like long-distance trucking. © Marijan Murat / picture alliance via Getty Images.
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