These innovative solutions to climate change are making serious waves
Climate change is undoubtedly one of the most pressing issues facing our global community. Though the jury is still out on whether the planet's warming climate is to blame for recent events like Hurricane Irma or the devastating flooding in South Asia, the scientific community agrees: if we continue on the same path of energy consumption, natural disasters will only become more common.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide a blueprint for tackling some of the planet's most pressing problems. Goal number 13 specifically urges nations, organizations, and individuals to "take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts."
But it’s not just major corporations and global governments helping to make this goal a reality. Smaller organizations are making big contributions. The startups and companies below are taking truly innovative approaches to the fight against climate change.
BioCarbon Engineering
"Radical reforestation" that plants trees using drones.
In Biology 101, students learn that Earth's plant life is the most fundamental part of our planet's ecosystem — animals need trees to produce life-giving oxygen. Deforestation presents an existential threat to this cycle, and it's also a major contributor to climate change.
To combat this, BioCarbon Engineering hopes to plant a billion trees a year. The startup's ambitious goals hinge upon its unique approach: Planting trees via drone.
Manually planting trees is a slow, expensive process; it can't compete with the rate of industrial deforestation. But by using drones, BioCarbon Engineering can scout out areas of interest, map topography and soil type, and plant seedpods at an exponentially faster rate. Seeds can then be monitored remotely, and this data informs machine learning algorithms for future planting efforts.
Ambri
Making battery-powered, off-grid energy more practical.
Donald Sadoway is a professor at MIT with four decades of experience in electrolytic metal production. The company he cofounded in 2010, Ambri, aims to change how energy is stored with its innovative "liquid metal battery."
The Ambri battery is designed with longevity and affordability in mind. The batteries — about the size of a ten-meter shipping container — can be installed in "substations" capable of servicing around 100 American homes at a time. The battery is also able to fill "dormancy periods" of renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power. (In other words, on a cloudy day, a home that relies upon solar power could tap into the Ambri battery for backup.) There are also exciting implications for the battery's impact upon rural or remote areas that have not traditionally had access to sustainable electricity.
"This battery, in conjunction with, for example, solar cells or wind generators, would allow regions that don't have access to electricity to have access [...] without having to make a master grid," says Sadoway. "You could put the battery in a remote location and power a remote village."
Ambri's battery has promising capabilities for improving efficiency on the conventional grid, too. Since the standard grid is designed for "peak usage," massive generators often sit idle during non-peak times. Ambri would allow for full output of stored energy in battery format.
Donald Sadoway is part of the UBS Global Visionary program. Read more about his story and learn about other entrepreneurs making an impact around the world.
Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods
Tackling climate change by building a better veggie burger.
The meat industry is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to carbon emissions on a global scale. In fact, research led by the Oxford Martin School estimates that a widespread transition to vegetarianism would cut carbon emissions by nearly two-thirds. Some studies even suggest that the meat industry contributes to climate change more than cars do.
But getting people to give up their beloved burgers is easier said than done. Enter: Companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. These companies produce mass-market, plant-based foods that perfectly replicate the look, taste, and texture of animal protein.
These companies are thinking bigger than your garden-variety veggie burger: The plant-based burger produced by Beyond Meat, for example, is convincing enough that it's sold in the meat case at some grocery stores. (The product is touted as the only plant-based burger that "bleeds" on the grill.)
According to Impossible Foods, their burger uses about one-twentieth the land, a quarter of the water, and produces an eighth the greenhouse gas emissions of a traditional beef burger. The company's mission to "reinvent the burger from the ground up" promises a greener, cleaner way for meat-lovers to enjoy their favorite delicacy.
Solar Roadways
Turning roads and walkways into super-powered energy generators.
In addition to cutting down on carbon emissions produced by the vehicles on our streets, engineers are also looking at how to improve the roads themselves. One ambitious company making headway in this space is Solar Roadways. The company hopes to mass-produce modular solar panels that can be walked or driven upon. These panels would form the foundation for a system of "smart highways" that could power the entire country — or even, according to the company's calculations, the entire planet.
The company's viral YouTube video earned Solar Roadways a place in the public spotlight a couple of years ago. Although there's still a long way to go before Solar Roadways become a go-to element of urban infrastructure, the company has had a few initial successes. In addition to raising $2.2 million on Indiegogo, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has also kicked in $750,000 for Solar Roadways' development and testing.
Solar Roadways' first public installation was erected in Jeff Jones Town Square in Sandpoint, Idaho, and consists of 30 SR2 panels that cover around 150 square feet.
The above companies are making serious waves in the fight against climate change. Interested in contributing another drop in the bucket? Find out more about impact investing and how you can make a difference.
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