Deployment of Climate Change Technologies

The journey to net zero is impossible without significant investment in technology. While bold sustainability targets dominate headlines, the reality is stark: only 10% of the low-emissions technologies needed to achieve net zero by 2050 have been deployed so far (McKinsey). Closing this gap demands urgent action, as the World Economic Forum estimates that a staggering $13.5 trillion will be needed by 2050 to decarbonize critical sectors (World Economic Forum). In 2023, the U.S. demonstrated the growing momentum in this space, investing $239 billion in clean energy, vehicle electrification, building technologies, and carbon management—an impressive 38% increase from 2022 (Clean Investment Monitor). Among these investments, the smart buildings market is projected to reach $78.2 billion by 2030, underscoring the pivotal role of innovative building technologies (Allied Market Research). The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasizes that technology holds the key to achieving net zero. Critical advancements in energy efficiency, carbon capture, electrification, and more are expected to drive about half of cumulative CO2 savings (IEA). Digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, can further optimize operations across sectors. As the Royal Society highlights, digital technologies alone could deliver nearly one-third of the carbon reductions needed by 2030 (Royal Society). These tools not only accelerate emission reductions but also create scalable solutions for a green economy and recovery. The path to net zero runs through technology. Without substantial and sustained investment in advanced digital and clean energy solutions, achieving global climate goals will remain out of reach. It's time for businesses and governments to make technology a cornerstone of their net-zero strategies. Sources in the comments. #NetZero #TechnologyInvestment #EnergyTransition #Sustainability #CleanEnergy

The latest Council on Competitiveness report released seven pillars for keeping U.S. firms competitive on a global scale. Pillar 5 highlights an urgent national priority: deploying cutting-edge technologies at speed and scale to maintain the U.S.’s competitive edge. At Innosphere, I’m proud to say this has been our focus for over 20 years. We’re proud to be advancing this mission in three key ways: 1️⃣ Life Sciences Incubator - Economic Development Administration Funded over 7 States Innosphere’s Life Sciences Incubator sets itself apart by being directly accountable to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for delivering measurable outcomes. Here’s what our most recent cohort achieved: -Created 62 full-time jobs in their first year, with an average salary of $107,000. -Secured $18.2M in funding. -Filed 5 patents and 34 provisionals, with 16 more in progress. -Built 55 strategic partnerships, with over half of participating startups forming at least one alliance. By focusing on outcomes, we’re helping early-stage startups grow, innovate, and create real economic impact. 2️⃣ NSF ENGINES: Colorado-Wyoming Engine: Digital Twins Deployment Accelerator Through our collaboration with Microsoft’s TechSpark program, we’re launching a Digital Twins Deployment Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind program designed to develop and commercialize digital twin technologies for climate resilience. This accelerator will support 8-10 startups in areas like renewable energy, water resource management, and carbon accounting - creating a new wave of innovation in climate tech. 3️⃣ Scale-Up Accelerator (Launching in 2025) Too few companies make it beyond the startup phase. That’s why we’re piloting a Scale-Up Accelerator through the NSF Engine, targeting climate tech companies ready to scale past $1M in revenue. This program is designed to bridge the gap for businesses poised for growth, ensuring they get the support they need to thrive. Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires intentional programs and partnerships that bridge industry, academia, and government. From fostering early-stage breakthroughs to scaling established businesses, Innosphere is actioning Pillar 5 by creating pathways for U.S. technology leadership.

Africa and other emerging markets present significant opportunities for climate tech solutions, particularly in off-grid energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management. For decades, discussions about climate change have centered on challenges, but today, the focus is shifting toward solutions. In Africa, where over 600 million people lack access to electricity, off-grid energy innovations such as solar mini-grids and battery storage solutions are transforming rural communities. Companies are already deploying affordable, pay-as-you-go solar home systems, allowing families and businesses to generate power without relying on expensive and unreliable national grids. ➜ Sustainable agriculture is another key frontier for climate tech. With over 70% of Africans relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, the need for climate-resilient farming techniques has never been greater. Technologies like precision agriculture, drought-resistant seeds, and AI-driven weather forecasting are helping farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions while improving productivity. By digitizing supply chains and providing real-time market access through mobile platforms, smallholder farmers can reduce post-harvest losses and increase their profits. ➜ Water management is equally critical for climate resilience. Many African regions experience severe droughts and water scarcity, making efficient water use a necessity. Climate tech startups are developing smart irrigation systems, atmospheric water harvesting, and wastewater recycling solutions that maximize water efficiency. AI-powered sensors and data analytics are also being used to monitor groundwater levels and predict shortages before they become crises. The beauty of climate tech in emerging markets is that these solutions are not just mitigating climate change but also creating economic opportunities. The climate tech industry is projected to be worth over $1.5 trillion by 2030, and Africa is uniquely positioned to be at the center of this transformation. Governments, investors, and entrepreneurs must work together to scale these innovations and make them accessible to the communities that need them the most. ➜ The time to invest in climate tech for Africa and emerging markets is now. As global capital shifts toward green investments, Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog traditional, carbon-intensive models and embrace sustainable solutions. The question is no longer whether these technologies will take off, but how quickly they can scale to benefit millions. Let’s build a future where climate resilience and economic growth go hand in hand. The opportunities are limitless—who is ready to invest in Africa’s green revolution?

AI and technology have the potential to play a significant role in addressing climate change. What do you think? Here are some ways in which AI and technology can help manage the impacts of climate change: Monitoring and Prediction: * Satellite Imaging: AI-powered analysis of satellite images can track deforestation, monitor changes in land use, and assess the health of ecosystems. * Climate Modeling: Advanced AI algorithms can improve the accuracy of climate models, allowing for better predictions of future climate patterns and extreme weather events. * Early Warning Systems: AI-driven systems can analyze vast amounts of data to provide early warnings of natural disasters like floods, droughts, and wildfires, allowing for timely evacuations and preparedness measures. Mitigation: * Renewable Energy Optimization: AI can optimize the operation of renewable energy systems like solar and wind farms, maximizing their efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. * Energy Efficiency: AI-powered smart grids can optimize energy distribution, reduce energy consumption, and identify inefficiencies in energy systems. * Carbon Capture and Storage: AI can help develop more efficient and cost-effective methods for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions. * Sustainable Agriculture: AI can optimize agricultural practices, reducing the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and improving crop yields. Adaptation: * Urban Planning: AI can help design cities that are more resilient to climate change, optimizing infrastructure and land use to minimize the impact of extreme weather events. * Water Management: AI can optimize water distribution and usage, helping to manage water scarcity and prevent water shortages. * Disaster Response: AI can aid in disaster response efforts by analyzing data to identify areas most affected and coordinating relief efforts. Challenges and Considerations: * Data Quality and Accessibility: AI models rely on high-quality and accurate data, which can be challenging to obtain, especially in developing countries. * Ethical Considerations: AI systems must be developed and used ethically, ensuring that they do not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones. * Infrastructure and Expertise: Implementing AI solutions requires significant investment in infrastructure and the development of skilled AI professionals. While AI and technology offer promising solutions to address climate change, it is important to recognize that they are not a silver bullet. A comprehensive approach that combines technological solutions with policy changes, behavioral changes, and international cooperation is essential to effectively address this global challenge. #Ai #Technology via @tiatavee #Innovation

Four major barriers stand between emerging climate technologies and adoption at scale. My fantastic colleagues at BCG offer a thoughtful take on how earlier pioneering technologies—wind, CCGT, renewables, LNG, and solar—overcame them. These lessons can be really insightful as we consider how to commercialize and scale the many other technologies needed for the energy transition. Some of what they highlight include: 👉 To succeed, emerging technologies must find effective solutions that address four categories of challenges: technical problems, offtake issues, market complications, and policy constraints. 👉 Today’s mature climate technologies met and overcame these challenges in various ways, including through standardization, modularization, government and third-party R&D support, demand aggregation, tolling agreements, and consistent government incentives and regulations. 👉 Critical stakeholders—private industry, early-stage entrepreneurs, financial intermediaries, and policymakers—can help emerging climate technologies accelerate at-scale commercialization by taking effective, tech-specific action along proven pathways. https://lnkd.in/gDPs8WJW Thomas Baker, Karan Mistry, PhD, Vinoj Pillai, Bahar Carroll, and David Cotton #ClimateTech #EnergyTransition #NetZero #Sustainability #Innovation #NetZero #CleanTech

I'm pleased to share this new CSIS brief from Mathias Zacarias Ray Cai and me, on deploying U.S. low-carbon technologies in emerging economies. 2020s America faces twin imperatives: addressing climate change and strengthening economic and geopolitical security. This report examines how the U.S. can lead with promise and pragmatism by developing strategies for technology leadership and bilateral partnerships. Our case studies: 🛢️ Carbon capture in Indonesia 🪫 Long-duration energy storage in India 🧪 Clean hydrogen in Brazil To bring US innovations abroad, we propose the "American New Energies for the World" (ANEW) framework to create resilient, secure supply chains between the U.S. and partner nations. Demonstrating how strategic deployment of U.S. low-carbon technologies can simultaneously advance decarbonization, economic development, and energy security. CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program CSIS Economic Security and Technology (EST) Department Read more here -> https://lnkd.in/eTN-c9CH

FOAK (first of a kind) climate projects are all the rage right now - and it makes sense why. They're desperately needed. I've spent the last few months digging into this big opportunity for climate startups, the challenges that come with it, and the organizations who are working to fill the gaps. Here are the spark notes on what I’ve learned so far: Climate startups are facing a bottleneck. Many have built prototypes and shown proof of concept, mostly on the back of VC dollars, but taking the necessary next step of piloting and deploying their tech at a commercial scale is more akin to a massive leap. Challenges include… Funding - VC dollars are no longer enough. Building capital intensive infrastructure requires risk tolerant project finance, non-dilutive funding, and often philanthropy, all working in tandem. Expertise - Startup founders are innovators, not developers or financiers. Nor should they try to become those things. Rather, they can succeed by pulling in support from experts in these areas. Partnerships - This is the biggest one, in my opinion. Commercial-scale tech deployment by growth stage startups is a hugely multifaceted process. In addition to the startup team, the financial stakeholders, and the development experts, you also need buy-in from market incumbents (public or private) who can champion the technology within the market and serve as initial customers, as well as community-based organizations where projects will be built. And you need all of these stakeholders aligned and collaborating smoothly. Talk about herding cats! I will be focusing my efforts in 2024 on building more collaboration and better partnerships within this space, so that we can drive climate impact and get these amazing technologies to market. Here is a list of some companies I’ve come across who are already doing amazing work in this space: Elemental Excelerator is playing a big role as a convener with leadership from folks like Dawn Lippert, Saritha Peruri, and Danya Hakeem. Many orgs are focused on funding scale up projects, like Breakthrough Energy’s Catalyst group, Prime Coalition, Trent Yang’s Galway Sustainable Capital, Inc, Generate, FullCycle, Keyframe, and Wavelength Infra (Caroline McGeough). Third Sphere is making it easier for startups to understand the process and access capital (Shaun Abrahamson, Shilpi Kumar, Stonly Blue) Others are running programs to help connect growth stage startups with market incumbents for pilot projects, like Newlab (Shaina Horowitz, Carlos E. Trevino, Liz Keen), Uptake Alliance (Chris Richardson), Black & Veatch’s Ignite Program, Accenture (Jonathan Weitz), and Deep Science Ventures’s FOAXIAL Accelerator (Ahmad Butt). Sightline Climate (CTVC) wrote an awesome article recently about two successful FOAKs with LanzaTech and H2 Green Steel. I can’t list them all and even if I could, I’m sure there are so many who I’ve missed. So I’ll ask you: who are the orgs leading the way on FOAK climate projects?

The latest journal publication from the Energy Policy and Modelling Group reviews the role of negative emissions technologies (NETs) in energy systems models and decarbonisation scenarios. Abstract: "Achieving global commitments on climate mitigation necessitates a rapid transition of the global energy system away from fossil fuels. Modelled scenarios within Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and Energy Systems Models (ESMs) indicate that limiting global temperature rise to safe levels will require some dependence on negative emissions technologies (NETs). However, the representation of NETs varies significantly across models, leading to differences in their roles across mitigation scenarios. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) are two possible solutions that are directly related to the energy system. Here, we perform a systematic review of the representation of BECCS and DACCS within ESMs and IAMs, exploring their roles in decarbonisation scenarios and identifying how NETs contribute to energy system transition pathways. In terms of model structure, we examine the sensitive factors like discount rate, and limitations of modelling NETs in ESMs and provide insights for best practices. The results show that the availability of BECCS and DACCS can facilitate the transformation of energy systems towards low- or net-zero emissions and reduce the marginal abatement cost (MAC) of CO2 for achieving ambitious climate targets in modelled scenarios. When NETs are not available, a more rapid and deep emissions reduction is required, including a larger-scale deployment of renewables and earlier phaseout of fossil fuels. More significant changes in energy demand, such as energy efficiency improvements, electrification of end-use sectors and lowering energy services demand, can reduce the dependency on NETs. In addition, although NETs deployment helps to reduce the energy system mitigation costs, sticking to technically feasible pathways also presents challenges as MACs remain high, and relying heavily on these technologies may result in risks, such as temperature overshoot and fossil fuel lock-in." Congratulations to doctoral candidate Weipeng Xie for publishing his first article as lead author, and thanks to coauthors Paul Deane and Vahid Aryanpur. Funding from MaREI, Science Foundation Ireland, UCC Environmental Research Institute, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. https://lnkd.in/e8B8YSg8

How technology powers climate adaptation 🌎 Advanced technologies integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly recognized as essential instruments for climate adaptation. These technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, earth observation, AR/VR, and advanced computing, are emerging across various stages of the data life cycle. Their deployment varies from autonomous operation to collaborative application, all aimed at enhancing climate resilience. The capabilities afforded by these tools span predictive analytics, real-time process optimization, and the fostering of adaptive behaviors through nudging strategies. Powered by digital intelligence, these resources are invaluable for advancing climate adaptation measures. The adoption of the 'Adaptation Cycle' is key for harnessing these tools effectively. This strategic framework guides entities through a cycle of understanding and preparing for climate-related risks and opportunities, building resilience to withstand future events, and agilely responding to the immediate effects of climate phenomena. Technologies at the intersection of AI and climate science are proving to be transformative. They offer not just a glimpse into the potential hazards but also provide the means to anticipate and prepare for such events, ensuring a proactive stance in climate adaptation. As these technologies evolve, they promise to be even more integral to global efforts to combat climate change. Their application spans across sectors, from urban planning and agriculture to disaster response and resource management, highlighting the universal relevance of AI-powered solutions. The integration of AI with advanced technological tools offers a path forward in building a resilient and adaptable infrastructure to meet the challenges of a changing climate. The ongoing advancement in these sectors signifies a proactive approach to climate adaptation, one that is rooted in innovation and strategic foresight. Source: World Economic Forum #sustainability #sustainable #tech #technology #esg #AI #climatechange #climateadaptation #climatecrisis

Technology is revolutionising how businesses tackle carbon emissions, offering innovative solutions that are both measurable and impactful. IoT sensors and AI-driven platforms allow organisations to monitor energy use and emissions in real time, identifying once-invisible inefficiencies. These insights enable precise strategies for reducing operational carbon footprints. Businesses can leverage technology to offset emissions they can’t yet eliminate. Exchanges such as Carbon Trade eXchange (CTX) are increasing the transparency of carbon offset programs by offering verified carbon credits and ensuring investments in projects like reforestation, renewable energy, and reuse deliver tangible results. Globechain the ESG Reuse Marketplace exemplifies how technology and reuse go hand in hand, providing companies with ESG and carbon-deferred data to quantify the impact of rehoming items that might otherwise be discarded. This integration reduces waste and lowers emissions tied to production and disposal, showcasing the power of circular economy solutions. As we navigate the path to net zero, adopting advanced technology for carbon management is no longer optional—it’s essential. These tools empower organisations to take measurable, accountable, and scalable climate action, making sustainability a core driver of success. How is your business embracing technology to reduce its environmental impact and build resilience for the future? #CarbonManagement #SustainabilityInBusiness #NetZeroGoals #TechForGood #CircularEconomy #CarbonTracking #SustainableInnovation #CarbonOffsetting #ClimateAction #GreenTechnology