Human consumption is responsible for 88% of the world's carbon emissions.

Once upon a time in the summer of 2022, I sell my company and embark on a new adventure. I dive deep into the world of climate change research with the mission of finding startups with great potential that are passed on by typical funding sources.

During my journey, I gather valuable knowledge about various technologies designed to reduce greenhouse emissions across different industries. I assess these technologies for hidden opportunities and rank them based on their potential impact and cost, ordering them by their "bang for buck" overall.

At the end of my preliminary research, I feel a mix of hope and despair.

I find that there is no shortage of innovative ideas across various industries to address climate change. But most of these solutions encounter a common problem: the need for a significant change in human behavior, both individually and on a large scale through government policies. Competing with human behavior is incredibly difficult and requires strong government incentives and disincentives to prompt change. Unfortunately, the political climate and the significant funds required make it difficult for these ideas to progress.

The real challenge is not about finding the right technologies to eliminate carbon emissions, as these solutions are already known. The primary task is to make people, particularly large corporations responsible for the majority of carbon emissions, care about these technologies and act urgently. Individual actions like recycling and composting do virtually nothing on a global scale; they just make people feel warm and fuzzy. Massive, global changes led by governments are needed, but such change is slow to come.

But that doesn't mean we should give up.

As I rank these efforts, the item that becomes the clear winner in terms of requiring the least amount of investment with the highest amount of potential is the category of "land use." Sustainable land use can make significant headway in combating climate change. Addressing existing infrastructure with better technology is more complex and has a lesser impact. It is critical that we invest in those areas while continuing to educate the next generation on facing the imminent dangers of climate change.

My hope now rests on the inevitable breakthroughs we can't yet imagine, emerging from these technologies, allowing humanity to turn back the clock and save our planet. It will take a true breakthrough in unimaginable areas to ensure that Earth remains a home for all living things.

While each climate solution has its own individual challenges, there are also themes that they all share.

Integration challenges with existing energy systems and grid infrastructure

Develop and implement smart grid technologies, as well as advanced control and management systems, to enable seamless integration of renewable energy sources into the existing infrastructure.

Insufficient policy support and incentives

Establish strong government policies, regulations, and financial incentives that promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies and encourage private sector investment.

High upfront costs

Increase public and private investment in research and development to drive down the costs of renewable technologies and make them more affordable.

Technical challenges and infrastructure limitations (e.g., slow advancements, dependence on weather, and distribution issues)

Foster innovation through research, development, and collaboration between academia, industry, and government to accelerate advancements in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure.

Intermittency and energy storage issues for some renewable energy sources (e.g., solar and wind)

Invest in research and development of energy storage solutions, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, to address the intermittency issues of renewable energy sources.

Regulatory barriers and bureaucratic hurdles in project development and implementation

Streamline regulatory processes and remove bureaucratic obstacles to facilitate faster and more efficient renewable energy project development and implementation.

Limited scalability

Support the development of new technologies and strategies that can be scaled up, such as modular and flexible renewable energy systems, to meet increasing energy demand. Solutions at the appropriate scale are inherently VERY slow. If we broke ground on a new nuclear power plant today, it'd be 10 years before it comes online.

Environmental concerns (e.g., soil erosion, water depletion, and competition for land use)

Implement best practices in renewable energy project planning, development, and operation to minimize adverse environmental impacts and ensure sustainable land use.

Skilled workforce shortages and the need for specialized training and education in renewable energy technologies

Develop targeted education and training programs to build a skilled workforce that can support the growth of the renewable energy sector.

Social acceptance and public perception of renewable technologies

Engage in effective communication, outreach, and education campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and address misconceptions and concerns among the public.

Website coded by hand by Myke Nahorniak with assistance from ChatGPT

Research performed by Myke Nahorniak. Sources provided on each climate card.

Images

1. Images generated by Midjourney V5