Accomplish the Climate goals with Technological Innovations for Climate Change Mitigation

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Accomplish the Climate goals with Technological Innovations for Climate Change Mitigation
04 Jun 2022
5 min read

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The role of technology in climate change is visible. To avoid the most severe consequences of climate change and ensure a safer future, the entire globe must rapidly transition to a low-carbon economic system. Innovation has already played a part in bringing us clean and affordable energy solutions such as wind, solar, and nuclear power. To take full advantage of these existing clean energy sources, we must expand their implementation and continue to improve their efficiency. 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI) advancements will be critical. Know more about the impact of technology on climate change with us. #TWN

To avoid the most severe consequences of climate change and ensure a safer future, the entire globe must rapidly transition to a low-carbon economic system. According to the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment, if further warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is to be limited, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 and then rapidly decline. New technology to reduce greenhouse gases must be put to the test so that the IPCC assessment can conclude.

To achieve that goal, we will need to quickly scale up current clean energy remedies, develop new methods of producing and storing clean energy, and investigate ways to counteract historical emissions. At each stage, technological innovation will be critical. The role of technology in climate change is visible, and here is how you use technology for the betterment of the climate:

Role of Technology in Climate Change

Quickly Scale Up Current Clean Energy Remedies

Innovation has already played a part in bringing us clean and affordable energy solutions such as wind, solar, and nuclear power. To take full advantage of these existing clean energy sources, we must expand their implementation and continue to improve their efficiency. 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI) advancements will be critical.

To manage fluctuations in supply and demand, AI models are already being used to optimize the structure of wind turbine blades and foresee the unpredictability of wind-energy production.

Manufacturers are using 3D printing to create lighter solar panels with larger surface areas, improving efficiency and cutting the cost of solar power. Manufacturers will also be able to use 3D printing to create complex designs for next-generation nuclear reactors that can be quickly developed, tested, and brought to market.

Develop New Methods of Producing and Storing Clean Energy

Increasing the effectiveness of today's climate remedies will only get us so far toward our climate targets. To achieve net-zero energy, new technologies and solutions that are not yet widely accessible and affordable will be required.

Improved energy storage solutions are needed if intermittent renewables like solar and wind power are to displace substantial greenhouse gas emissions. While recent advancements in battery tech are inspiring, there is still a need for safer, lighter battery packs that do not rely on special materials. It's early days, but quantum computing could help unlock better material properties and design combinations for next-generation batteries.

In addition to coming up with new ways to conserve energy, there is a need to tap into alternative forms of energy such as nuclear fusion, which has long been regarded as the "holy grail" of research and innovation due to its potential to provide an infinite source of safe, viable, and efficient energy. Getting cleaner, safer energy will be the most positive impact of technology on climate change.

Unlike existing nuclear reactors, which split uranium and other heavy subatomic particles into smaller nuclei in a procedure known as nuclear fission, nuclear fusion produces a plasma hotter than the sun's core.

Plasma is highly unstable, making it difficult to sustain the nuclear fusion process inside a reactor. DeepMind's use of deep learning to unearth opportunities to control fusion reactions, on the other hand, provides hope that nuclear fusion will become a viable energy source in the future.

Plasma is highly unstable, making it difficult to sustain the nuclear fusion process inside a reactor. DeepMind's use of deep learning to unearth opportunities to control fusion reactions, on the other hand, provides hope that nuclear fusion will become a viable energy source in the future.

Making the transition to a net-zero future will be impossible with current and future renewable sources and batteries. Long-distance transportation necessitates the use of energy carriers with a high energy density. As a result, shipping and aviation remain dependent on fuel rather than stored energy. Green hydrogen and synthesized biofuels might aid in the transition of these traditionally polluting industries to cleaner energy. Advances in genetic manipulation and synthetic biology will almost certainly open up new avenues for increasing the efficiency of biofuel production by modifying the genes of the plants used to produce them.

Controlling Historical Emissions

Even with bold energy transition efforts, intentionally removing greenhouse gases from the environment will almost certainly be a vital tool for offsetting historical emissions as well as emissions from sluggish industries. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) refers to a variety of methods for capturing carbon dioxide directly from the surroundings and storing it in natural or man-made storage tanks to generate negative emissions.

Plants designed to contain extra carbon dioxide in their root system are being studied, as are water treatment systems that contain carbon from the ocean in rock. However, a huge sum of investment will be needed for these and other CDR techniques to be implemented at scale and in time to meet the climate crisis's urgent needs. Projects like the Earth Shot on removing carbon dioxide are a good place to start, but more public-private collaboration is needed.

Restructuring the Transformation

The World Economic Forum enables the exchange of ideas and alternatives that will shape transitions in the energy sector and beyond by bringing together groundbreaking start-ups and more established companies. At the Annual Meeting 2022 in Davos, we look forward to welcoming over 100 experts and entrepreneurs from the new tech Trailblazers and Global Innovators communities.

By enhancing cooperation between start-ups, proven businesses, governments, and civil society, the Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) help to shape the innovation environment in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other innovative domains. The C4IR, through its rapidly expanding network of national and sub-national centers, assists in the piloting, iteration, and scaling of technological solutions such as drone delivery of health supplies in Rwanda and railroad track repairs using AI in Brazil.

Technology alone will not solve the climate crisis. Meeting ambitious climate goals will necessitate a massive effort on the part of governments, businesses, and people. However, I am optimistic that innovation will assist us in reducing emissions now and extracting emissions in the coming days.

Now are some questions that you might want to know about.

How Does Technology Affect Climate Change Positively and Negatively?

Down here are some of the positive changes that are due to the advancement in the technology:

  • Technology has helped in measuring & reporting carbon footprint.
  • It has helped in Abatement Planning & Management.
  • With the help of technology, we can use carbon offsetting as our last resort.
  • Remote working has been a part of our lives now, it has definitely saved a lot of fuel-burning between homes and offices, causing less

Now is the time to know about the adverse effects. Technology has negative effects also on the environment. Here are some of the points to notice:

  • It might have increased pollution (air & water).
  • New tech needs resources, and it will cause depletion of natural resources.
  • New technology replaces the old one rather than repairing it.

Also Read: Climate Change Cause For Loss Of Dragonflies

Conclusion

Technology advancement is the need of the hour. If you want to cure the climate in a long run, you need to apply the new technological innovations and try improving them. After all, we all have only one thing in common, our planet.

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