Fortunately, there are lots of solutions and promising ideas and inventions in the fight against climate change. They include new kinds of transportation like electric cars and renewable energy. Renewable energy is energy that can't be used up, unlike oil and gas. It includes things like solar energy and wind power.

How we implement solutions can be as important as creating the solutions themselves. One way to determine what actions are useful is to consider the levers of action.

In this article, we'll discuss three types of levers: business, government, and individual. All three need to work together to help us solve climate change.

Government levers

There are many ways that governments can help fight climate change. Internationally, governments can come together to set climate action goals. The 2015 Paris Agreement is an example of this. Many of the world's countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, are causing the global warming that is driving climate change. They are emitted or released when carbon-based fossil fuels are burned.

Within a single country, government policy can promote the research and development of climate solutions. We're going to need a lot of breakthrough technologies to take on climate change. But sometimes, a new idea is so risky that private companies are afraid to invest in it. They are afraid of losing money. Governments are willing to take more financial risks. Governments can fund new technologies until they are profitable enough for private companies to take over.

Governments also play an essential role in promoting emerging technologies. They can do this by offering financial help to companies developing new technologies. They can use their power as consumers. When governments decide they will only build using green construction materials or will only buy clean energy vehicles, they help grow these parts of the economy. Often, this also lowers the price of these products.

Governments can use their regulatory power to ensure companies and communities follow basic guidelines like building codes and public transportation policies. Taken together, these regulations can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The government can also pass laws that require polluting companies to control their carbon emissions.

Business levers

Businesses produce and sell the goods and services we rely on every day, which makes them important levers. One of the biggest roles of business is researching and developing new products. Private businesses can often work faster than governments. They lead the way in creating new climate change solutions with things like low-carbon cement, large-scale energy storage, and advanced biofuels.

Businesses also contribute by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and transforming their energy use. Making things takes energy, and reducing the amount a company uses or turning to renewable sources can make a big difference.

Private businesses can encourage people to buy low- or zero-carbon products or services. Consumers are more aware of their choices when buying a product, and most prefer options that are better for the environment. Companies manufacturing low-carbon products can label them as "climate-friendly," which makes it easier for consumers to choose greener options.

Individual levers

There are almost 8 billion people in the world today, each with our own carbon footprint, the total amount of greenhouse gases created by our actions. Reducing your emissions can make a difference. You can try to eat, travel, and buy things with climate change in mind and encourage others to do the same.

You can also encourage companies to reduce their climate impact. By purchasing low- or zero-carbon products, you can send a message to corporations that climate change is important to you. As a member of a democratic society, you can influence your representatives to make policies that advance climate solutions both locally and globally. You can make phone calls, write letters and attend public talks to show leaders that climate change is important.

It may seem like the actions of one person can't make a difference. However, the actions of millions or billions of people will create the change we need.

Working together

Here's a fictional example of real-world action that can happen when all the levers work together: A group of researchers in a large city figured out that many emissions were coming from old oil-burning heating systems in people's homes. They wanted to help people exchange those old heaters for new electric systems that produced far fewer emissions.

One of the biggest hurdles was cost. Although the new electric systems would save people money over time, they cost a lot up front. This is the green premium — the additional cost for a clean technology over one that produces greenhouse gases.

The researchers formed a company to find ways to help pay for the switch. This company asked the government and banks to help. They found a bank that would lend money to people. They found manufacturers that would lower their prices in order to sell a lot of heaters. Finally, they convinced the local city government to help pay for the systems. People were able to exchange their polluting oil-heating systems for cleaner electric systems. Everything worked out because businesses, government, and individuals worked together. To take on climate change, we need united action.