How is Technology Stopping Climate Change
We take a closer look at the important role technology is expected to play in reaching the world’s net zero goals in the next few years.
During the recent COP26 conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched an international plan to make clean technologies the most affordable, accessible, and attractive choice for all globally in each of the most polluting sectors by 2030. While the UK looks to reach their net zero goals by 2050, policymakers and business leaders face a clear opportunity to contribute to this ambition.
Businesses play a major role in our everyday lives, and each business process has its sum of energy required to produce its service or goods. As mentioned by Deloitte UK, ‘As of today, the transport and heavy industries sectors tend to be the biggest users of energy — and therefore the biggest greenhouse emitters. But to be successful in our ambition to reach net zero, as a business community, we need to reconsider the carbon in everything we consume.’
One of the biggest ways companies can decrease their carbon footprint is by using various renewable energies and clean technologies to enable climate ambitions and support economic growth. A few examples of these technologies include:
- Solar power – Solar energy is sustainable and inherently more sustainable than fossil fuel energy sources. As a way of converting the sun’s energy into electrical energy, solar panels make use of the single most sustainable resource on the planet – the light of the sun.
- Wind power – Generating energy from the wind does not release any carbon emissions. By replacing electricity generated from other sources such as fossil fuel power stations, wind energy can lead to an overall reduction in carbon emissions.
- Organic solar cells – The UK’s Carbon Trust believes that low-cost organic solar cells can be made efficient enough to win commercial success. It backs a project that aims to use printed rolls of these cells to provide safe lighting in parts of Africa and India.
- Carbon capture and storage – Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can reduce carbon emissions from gas and coal power plants, cement producers and other large emitters by up to 90%.
- Smart lighting – The phasing out of inefficient incandescent lighting in favour of fluorescent bulbs, which are 80% more efficient, is just a part of the story. Smart lighting is a rich area of innovation, with hundreds of small organizations developing new ways to supply developing countries
Companies such as Sustainable Technology & Solutions Centre can assist businesses in becoming more sustainable by always providing new and innovative energy and water-saving solutions. Businesses need to be provided with a platform to educate and inform clients on creative renewable energy and sustainable technology solutions, allowing them to see the products physically, discover their carbon/cost-saving benefits and find solutions for their requirements.
Strategies to prevent, decrease and replace destructive greenhouse gases are great ways of dealing with a company’s emissions. However, a lot of the technology costs too much and has its environmental impacts. To address these issues, businesses also need to start thinking about carbon offsetting as a way for them to neutralize some of their emissions. Various offsetting projects help by supporting local economies and funding work that is making an impact. Companies such as Treepoints, make having a positive climate impact quick and easy through supporting offsetting projects, planting trees, and removing plastic from the oceans around the world.
READ MORE:
- Scaleup Spotlight: Climeworks is the key to fighting climate change
- Google has launched a tool to tackle climate change
- How can IoT fight climate change?
- Will technology save humanity from climate change?
To hear more about this topic, join Top Business Tech and our panel of experts as they look at the technology that assists businesses in becoming more sustainable and some of the ways technology has also negatively impacted the planet, accelerating the need for renewable energy action.
Register now to join us on the 30th of November @ 10:00 am (GMT+2)
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