Earth’s average surface temperature has increased significantly since the pre-industrial era, with 2023 being the warmest year on record. This shows that things will only escalate and probably get worse if the right solutions aren’t implemented.
Beyond organizations working around the clock to plant trees and focus on enhancing greenery, numerous companies are working in overdrive to create promising climate solutions that genuinely have the scope to switch things around.
If you are curious about climate change, this article gives you a peek into some of the best climate solutions that are effectively counteracting its impacts worldwide.
1. Direct Air Capture (DAC) Technology
The concept of DAC isn’t new but was introduced in the 2000s and is one of the most groundbreaking technologies in this climate fight. Companies like Climeworks (Switzerland) and Carbon Engineering (Canada, co-founded by Harvard professor David Keith in 2009) are leading the charge.
This technology’s functionality is simple. It uses chemical solutions to pull CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, even from ambient air. Once the CO₂ is captured, it can be stored underground or reused to produce synthetic fuels or beverages. The main outcome is that it helps neutralize emissions.
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2. Enhanced Weathering
Another effective climate solution that targets eliminating CO₂ from the air is Enhanced Weathering. The process mimics rock erosion to draw down the carbon dioxide. The technique was first proposed in the 1990s by scientists like Klaus Lackner, but recent advancements by companies like UNDO and Vesta have made it more scalable.
So, how does it work? Finely ground silicate rocks (like olivine or basalt) are spread over land or coastlines in Enhanced Weathering. When these react with the rainwater and atmospheric CO₂, they form stable carbonates that lock away carbon for thousands of years. The technique also enhances soil fertility.
3. Seaweed Farming for Carbon Sequestration
Since carbon volatility is one of the primary triggers behind climate change, effective carbon sequestration is a great way to combat that issue, and Seaweed Farming is helping with that. Seaweed farming has been around for centuries, but only recently has it been used in carbon sequestration.
Researchers like Tim Flannery and startups such as Running Tide are making it revolutionary. Seaweed, especially kelp, grows extremely fast and absorbs vast amounts of CO₂—up to 20 times more per acre than terrestrial forests—explaining its benefits in improving the climate around it.
4. Green Hydrogen
Also termed “Renewable Hydrogen,” Green Hydrogen is yet another fantastic climate solution worth highlighting. Although it was invented in principle in the 19th century, it’s only in the last decade that green hydrogen has become commercially viable, thanks to plummeting solar and wind costs.
Some of the leading companies, such as Plug Power and NEL Hydrogen, and nations like Germany and Japan, are investing billions in hydrogen infrastructure because of its ability to decarbonize numerous sectors.
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5. Soil Carbon Sequestration
The soil around us also captures a significant amount of carbon. Scientists like Rattan Lal, a pioneer in soil science, began highlighting its carbon storage potential in the 1990s. Regenerative agriculture practices such as cover cropping, no-till farming, and composting are being adopted worldwide.
Owing to these techniques, carbon (especially excess carbon) in the air is pulled into the soil and stored underground. Even projects like Indigo Ag and Nori quantify farmers who focus on such farming practices.
6. CarbonCure Concrete
You strengthen the structure of your concrete home while helping the environment. Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it? That’s exactly what CarbonCure Concrete does. CarbonCure Technologies, founded in 2012 by Robert Niven in Canada, created this revolutionary technology.
CarbonCure injects captured CO₂ into fresh concrete, which reacts with calcium to form stable calcium carbonate. This not only locks away CO₂ permanently but also strengthens the concrete.
7. Perovskite Solar Cells
The use of solar energy as a renewable source has been discussed for decades now, and Perovskite Solar Cells are further capitalizing on this. These are next-generation photovoltaics discovered in 2009 by researchers like Tsutomu Miyasaka.
In these cheaper and more stable cells, the main material used is perovskite, a crystalline structure that can be layered onto surfaces using low-cost processes. Startups such as Oxford PV and Saule Technologies are in the process of commercializing these cells. What’s fascinating about these cells is that the perovskite can be printed onto windows, fabrics, or even curved surfaces, making solar energy more versatile and accessible to people.
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8. Biochar
Biochar plays a significant role in agriculture and is yet another revolutionary climate solution worth discussing. The compound is produced by pyrolyzing organic waste in a low-oxygen environment. Indigenous Amazonian communities used biochar for centuries (as “terra preta”). However, its widespread use was popularized in the 2000s.
Biochar stores carbon stably in soil for hundreds to thousands of years while improving fertility, water retention, and microbial activity. So, in the long haul, you benefit from enhanced agricultural outputs and a better environment.
9. Floating Solar Farms
Like Perovskite Solar Cells, floating solar farms, also known as photovoltaics, focus on neutralizing two problems: generating clean energy and conserving water. The idea behind this originated in Japan and is now used across countries like India and China.
By installing solar panels on lakes, reservoirs, and even irrigation canals, floating solar reduces land use, limits evaporation, and improves panel efficiency due to the cooling effect of water. Some popular organizations embracing this technology include the Kayamkulam plant in India and the Huanghe Hydropower in China.
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10. Plant-Based and Cultivated Meats
Meat consumption is linked to significant carbon emissions, with studies indicating that it contributes between 14.5% and 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This explains why plant-based and cultivated meats are gaining a lot of traction.
Plant-based meats—like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, launched in the 2010s, have been creating products using soy, pea, and other plant proteins. These alternatives use a fraction of the land, water, and energy compared to conventional livestock, and emit significantly less methane, further supporting the environment around us.
11. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)
The role of BIPV is simple: It mitigates climate change by reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the promise of BIPV is that over time, it will allow buildings to generate their own power. The concept emerged in the 1990s, and popular companies like Tesla (Solar Roof) and Onyx Solar are further scaling it by integrating solar panels into walls, windows, and roofs.
At this point, as solar glass becomes increasingly affordable and globally accessible, it won’t be surprising if more buildings incorporate BIPV into their construction.
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12. AI-Driven Smart Grids
Artificial intelligence is also influencing the future of energy. AI-powered smart grids manage electricity supply and demand in real time, optimizing the flow of power and seamlessly integrating renewables. Popular companies like AutoGrid, Siemens, and Google’s DeepMind are leading the implementation of this concept.
With electric vehicles, rooftop solar, and batteries becoming commonplace, smart grids are essential to orchestrate this decentralized ecosystem.
Final Words
The consistent growth and evolution of technology is a living and breathing example of how extensive climate solutions can be. We are still at a basic level, scrounging with the currently available technology that’s reducing carbon emissions and focusing on making the environment much more liveable.
