Working the Levers of Climate Action
Fortunately, there are many solutions and promising innovations available in the fight against climate change. Renewable and nuclear energy technologies, new types of batteries and transportation options and better ways to feed people around the world are among them.
Even if a solution or technology exists, that doesn't mean it's being used in the right places or ways. How we implement solutions can be as important as coming up with the solutions themselves. One way to figure out what actions are useful is to think in terms of the levers of action.
Not all actions have the same impact, which is why it's important to identify the levers that actually make change happen. In this article, we'll discuss three types of levers: business, government and individual. All three will need to work together to help us solve climate change.
Government levers
Governments are powerful actors when it comes to solving climate change because of the many ways they can drive action. Internationally, governments can come together to set goals that shape the planning, implementation, and evaluation of climate action. The 2015 Paris Agreement, in which countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius, is an example of the impact of international collaboration between governments. These goals then influence national and local leaders and inform policies that propel the transformations we need.
An important example of this is government policies that promote the research and development of climate solutions. We're going to need a lot of breakthrough technologies to take on the many complex problems of climate change. Occasionally, a new idea is so risky that private companies are afraid to invest in it. This is because businesses are primarily driven by profit. However, governments are willing to take more financial risks. Governments can step in during the early stages of development to fund innovations until they are profitable enough for private companies to adopt.
Governments play an essential role in creating markets for emerging technologies. They do this by offering financial incentives to companies developing new technologies, such as grants or tax credits that help motivate companies to work on innovative technologies. They can also use their power as consumers. When governments decide that they will only build using green construction materials or will only buy clean energy vehicles, they help grow these parts of the economy. Often, in the process, they reduce the price of these products.
Governments can enact regulations to ensure companies and communities follow basic guidelines, such as building codes and public transportation policies, that 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, making them important levers in solving climate change. One of the biggest responsibilities of business is to conduct research and development into the innovations we need. Private businesses can often work faster and be more flexible than governments. As a result, they can lead the way in creating innovative climate change solutions, such as low-carbon cement, large-scale energy storage and advanced biofuels.
Another action companies can take is to adopt low- or zero-carbon technologies in their business practices. In particular, corporations can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 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 help drive the demand for low- or zero-carbon products or services in the marketplace. Consumers are becoming more aware of their choices when buying a product and prefer environmentally-friendly options. Companies manufacturing low-carbon products may label them as "climate-friendly," allowing consumers to make purchases that favor sustainability.
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. Some people produce more greenhouse gas than others, and reducing your emissions can make a difference. You can try to eat, travel, and purchase with climate change in mind, and encourage others to do the same. These aren't the only ways you can use your power and influence to combat climate change.
You can encourage companies to reduce their climate impact through your power as a consumer. By purchasing low- or zero-carbon products, you can send a message to corporations that climate change is important to you. You can hold companies accountable by calling for transparency and accuracy when they report their climate impact. As a voter in a democratic society, you can influence your representatives to make policies that enact climate solutions both locally and globally. You can make phone calls, write letters, and attend public talks to show leaders that people care about climate change. And who knows, you might decide you want to run for office yourself one day!
You can work to educate others about climate change and how they can make an impact. While it may seem like the actions of one person can't make a difference against a problem as big as climate change, the actions of millions or billions of people will create the change we need.
Working together
Here's a fictional example of what can happen when all the levers work together: A group of researchers in a large city discovered 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 the cost of these new systems. Although the new electric systems would save homeowners and renters lots of money over time, they cost a lot upfront. 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 finance the switch. This company lobbied the government and financial corporations to help them. They found a bank that was willing to lend money to prospective buyers. They found manufacturers of cleaner products who were willing to lower prices in order to sell them on a large scale. Finally, they convinced the local city government to help pay for the heating systems, which reduced the cost even further. In the end, people found it possible to exchange their polluting oil-heating systems for cleaner electric systems. With united action — businesses, government, and individuals working together—we can take on climate change.
Trevor Getz
Trevor Getz is a content editor for the Climate Project and a Professor of African and World History and affiliated with the Education program at San Francisco State University. His work centers on history and social studies as a vehicle for helping students understand contemporary issues such as climate change.
Credit: “Working the Levers of Climate Action”, Trevor Getz / OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/
Image credits
This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0 except for the following:
Cover image: Illustration for environmental conservation. © erhui1979 / DigitalVision / Getty Images.
Windmills in Uruguay. Through the use of their own buying power, investment, research, and subsidies, the government of Uruguay has created a national energy infrastructure that uses only renewables most days of the year! Much of the power is generated by companies that own windmills, biomass plants, and solar installations, but the government coordinates everything. © ElOjoTorpe / Moment / Getty Images.
Some of the most exciting innovation is happening in the private sector. This image shows the world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) facility, which is owned and operated by a private company. DAC is a process that removes carbon dioxide directly from the air and safely stores it underground. © Bloomberg / Getty Images.
Replacing old oil-heating systems with new electric heating can make a big difference in emissions, but it’s also expensive. Corporations, government, and individuals working different levers can come together to make it affordable for renters and homeowners. © Andrew Aitchison / In pictures / Getty Images.
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