Climate change can feel distant and abstract when it is discussed in terms of the year 2100 or vague promises of future technology. However, the upcoming decade may hold more importance than any other time when it comes to emissions and the lasting impact of our current choices.
There are a number of solutions that, while not perfect, may help to make a difference and are ready to go. These solutions may not solve the issues we are facing overnight, but if fully utilized, they are realistic, scalable, and grounded in existing science and economics. The most important factor is whether we choose to fully utilize them.
Scaling Up Renewable Energy Faster Than Ever
Providing alternative solutions to the mainstream sources of energy is no longer an issue with Renewable energy, as it provides solutions to the endless mainstream sources of energy. In many locations, Solar panels and wind turbines are some of the most affordable ways to create energy. The current challenge is the increase in the number of solar panels and wind turbines. It is also important to see how quickly these sources can be deployed.
Bureaucracy is one of the largest barriers. Renewable initiatives often face extended periods of no decision, local pushback, and antiquated rules surrounding the integration of renewable generation with the local electric grid. Rapidly streamlining the process of granting permits, while balancing and addressing the legitimate concerns of the environment and the community, would release the full potential of significant quantities of clean energy. Closely paralleled is the necessity to train more electricians, engineers, and installers, because the absence of a skilled workforce will inevitably lead to stagnation.
Energy storage is another tool to complete the puzzle. Batteries make it easy to store and utilize excess renewable electricity that is produced during periods of less demand. Numerous countries have already deployed large batteries that are capable of balancing and stabilizing grid operations. The coming decade will see batteries become more cost-effective, with longer lifetimes and improved recyclability. These attributes will render large-scale renewable systems capable of replacing fossil fuels.
Making Buildings Dramatically More Efficient
Buildings do not get enough attention in climate initiatives. However, they contribute to a significant percentage of global emissions. The energy consumed to power the heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances in a building is all occurring simultaneously, and every second of every day. The simplest solution is to reduce how much energy buildings need in the first place.
Especially for older homes, adding insulation is one of the most effective solutions to reducing heating and cooling demand. Modern windows reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. These changes can result in a fast payback period in the form of energy savings.
Because they represent one of the best opportunities to reduce emissions, heat pumps warrant particular attention. Unlike most heating systems, which burn fuel to create heat, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from one location to another. This makes them a much cleaner and more efficient option, particularly in the context of a fuel-burning grid. Given the right incentives and public awareness, millions of homes could make this transition in the next ten years.
Electrifying Transportation at Scale
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world is still transportation, particularly the use of gas in large trucks, buses, and planes. Because of this, much of the construction of new road and rail capacity has included investments in new technologies that produce zero emissions.
Electric vehicles are getting cheaper with better driving ranges and charging speeds. However, the most significant improvements would likely come from the electrification of commercial and public transport. Electric buses are able to reduce emissions and improve the air quality in highly populated city areas. Additionally, delivery vans and fleet vehicles drive along set and predictable routes, making them easy to electrify.
Charging infrastructure is just as important as the vehicles. Public charging stations, workplace charging, and home charging solutions can reduce the anxiety over driving distances and make choosing an electric vehicle an everyday option rather than an odd choice. If the current levels of electrification are maintained, transport emissions will likely reduce significantly over the next decade.
Repairing Food Systems and Cutting Waste
When discussing potential solutions to climate problems, the focus is often on energy, but as important as energy is, the food system is also a huge source of emissions. Manufacturing greenhouse gases occurs in agriculture from the use of fertilizers, emissions from livestock, and land clearing. At the same time, food waste is a huge problem.
Cutting down on food waste has astonishing effects on climate change and can save money and resources. All resources used to grow food are wasted, along with the food itself. Consumers, along with restaurants and grocery stores that can donate food, are better off not throwing food away. Instead, food can be systematically donated.
Small shifts in dietary habits can have a positive impact, with the consumption of more plant-based meals being the most critical. This can be the most socially acceptable, as it does not involve the large cultural shifts that other measures may force. Farmers who use soil- and water-conserving sustainable practices can also be supported.
Restoration of Ecosystems as Carbon Sinks
Although the natural ecosystems that are able to sequester and store carbon in the atmosphere have been damaged and destroyed, many of the most affordable and effective climate change solutions can be found in the restoration of these ecosystems.
Trees in forests can sequester and store carbon; however, restoration activities should be done with care and consideration. It can be more worthwhile to protect a forest than to plant a new one.
Wetlands, peatlands, and mangroves play a valuable role in the climate crisis due to their carbon sequestration capabilities. These three ecosystems are also multifunctional, as restoring and maintaining them protects people and their property from the impacts of flooding, storms, and erosion. Additionally, their restoration generates local employment and enhances biodiversity.
Cleaning Up Industry With Smarter Technology
Decarbonizing heavy industries, such as steel, cement, and chemicals, remains a formidable challenge. The primary obstacle remains the high temperatures and chemical reactions that are required for the production of these materials.
Renewable electricity-generated green hydrogen can be used to replace coal and natural gas in a variety of industrial processes. The technology has positive and negative aspects, as it remains costly, although the pricing has improved in conjunction with production scale. Facilities that are unable to alter their processes can also employ carbon capture to reduce their impact.
These technologies will be unable to completely erase industrial emissions, yet the most polluting industrial processes can be targeted to achieve meaningful reductions in the coming decades. With such a complex problem, the challenge to provide industrial processes will lie in maintaining a high degree of innovation combined with careful regulation to provide the necessary processes without significant economic disruption.
Using Policy and Investment to Accelerate Change
Technology on its own can be helpful, but it will not be sufficient to provide the necessary speed of change to overcome the climate crisis. The velocity of technology diffusion and adoption is a function of market structure and does not require extensive effort to be implemented. Well-defined processes, a long time horizon, and strong economic support will alter the market in a variety of ways and can be accomplished in a very short time frame.
Making pollution more expensive motivates firms to lower emissions, while clean energy standards advance utility adoption of renewables. Public funding embraces risk for research, early-stage deployment, and the infrastructure investments that the private sector may skip.
Just as important is the support for workers and communities affected by the transition. Climate action is more likely to improve people’s lives, rather than create new inequities, through training programs, job guarantees, equitable regional investments, and targeted support.
There is no problem where climate change is concerned that is hoping for a miracle. Most of the tools to solve it are already at hand. The coming decade is about scale, coordination, and commitment. Societies can make real progress by focusing practical efforts on what can be done rather than what is promised for the future.
