Climate change is no longer a distant threat: it is a reality manifested in extreme events, melting ice and rising sea levels. According to the latest report published by Nature Communications and confirmed by the NOAA Arctic Report Card 2024, the Arctic could be free of sea ice as early as the summer of 2027. A warning sign that we cannot ignore.
And yet, technology and innovation offer us a way out. The tools to cut CO2 emissions and slow global warming are already there, but their large-scale adoption is still held back by costs, economic interests and political inertia.
Fig. 1: Time to ice-free conditions (about 30% that will disappear within 6 years)
The technology is there: what are we waiting for?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world proved that reducing emissions is possible. In 2020, global CO2 emissions decreased by 7% due to reductions in transport and industrial activity. This drop, although temporary, has shown the potential for structural action. But to achieve lasting results, a decisive transition to clean technologies is needed.
Here are some of the technological solutions ready to be implemented:
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Technologies that capture CO2 emitted by industrial plants and store it underground. States such as Norway and Canada are already experimenting with large-scale CCS projects.
- Renewable energy: Solar, wind, hydro and geothermal are at the heart of an energy transition. The cost of renewables has plummeted in recent years, making them competitive with fossil fuels. However, increased deployment requires investment in infrastructure and smart grids.
- Electric transport: The spread of electric cars (EVs) can drastically reduce transport emissions, which today account for 16% of global emissions (iea.org). Countries like Norway show that tax incentives and appropriate infrastructure can accelerate adoption: by 2022, more than 80% of cars sold were electric (reuters.com).
- Sustainable agriculture: Innovative diets for livestock to reduce methane, anaerobic digesters to turn agricultural waste into biogas and regenerative farming techniques can revolutionise the sector.
Making change accessible: the role of governments
A key barrier to the adoption of clean technologies is the initial cost. Solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles and energy efficiency systems often remain out of reach for many households and businesses. But what if governments made these technologies free or highly subsidised?
- Incentives for replacing polluting technology: ‘Green scrappage’ programmes could encourage citizens to replace obsolete vehicles, boilers or appliances with low-emission alternatives. In Germany, for example, funding of up to 50 per cent has stimulated the energy refurbishment of buildings.
- Large-scale public investment: Making some essential technologies free of charge could reduce inequalities and accelerate the transition. Projects such as the Ujala programme in India, which has distributed billions of low-cost LED bulbs, show that it is possible to combine innovation and inclusiveness.
- Reducing economic barriers: The green transition must not burden the most vulnerable. Fiscal policies, such as progressive carbon taxation, could finance access to clean technologies for all.
Who pollutes more?
The data speak for themselves: China, the United States, the European Union and India are the largest contributors to global CO2 emissions (photo). The energy sector accounts for about 40 per cent of emissions, followed by transport and heavy industry. Methane, mainly produced by agriculture and fossil fuel extraction, also poses a significant threat.
Addressing this challenge requires global collaboration. But it is not enough to wait for the big polluters to change. Everyone has a role to play, from consumption choices to political pressure for more sustainable policies.
A future of innovation and collaboration
As the NOAA Arctic Report Card 2024 quotes: ‘Only the strongest actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions will allow us to minimise risks and damage in the future. In our connected Earth system, we all have a role to play.’
Technology offers us a real chance to change course, but time is running out. Making clean solutions accessible, replacing polluting technologies and adopting a collaborative approach are essential steps to ensure a sustainable future. It is now up to us, as a global society, to decide whether we take advantage of this opportunity.
Innovation can save us, but only if we choose to use it
(see video NOAA Arctic Report Card: Update for 2024 – Tracking recent environmental changes)
