The development of new solar farms demands a limited and precious resource – land – which is also critical to ranchers and graziers raising livestock. This week, we spoke to Stacie Peterson, Executive Director of the American Solar Grazing Association, about solar grazing, an approach to multi-purpose land use that supports clean energy, ecological health, economic growth, and happy sheep.
Small green tech startups often have the right ideas but lack the resources to get them to market. Howard Lee, associate director of Hong Kong’s green technology hub at HKSTP, explains how a physical community of 230+ companies ranging from new energy, smart cities, green buildings, and green fintech are changing that equation. By co-locating companies of like minds, facilitating business matchmaking, and offering hands-on training for attracting investors, the hub helps startups punch above their weight. Howard talks about how the hubs accelerate the replacement of climate-harming technology by giving green innovators the network, visibility, and skills they need to go global.
At UC Berkeley, electricity and steam are generated by burning natural gas – but a renewable energy future is right around the corner. This week, we spoke to Sally McGarrahan, Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Services, about how the university is advancing towards a carbon free campus through clean energy innovation.
Climate-friendly banks are financial institutions that employ public and private capital to support sustainable technologies and climate-forward initiatives, and commit to not investing in the fossil fuel industry. This week, we spoke with Charley Cummings, the CEO of a climate-forward bank called Walden Mutual, about how greener banks are pushing for a more sustainable future. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org.
India faces severe air pollution, much of it driven by the transportation sector. This week, we spoke with Dr. Rashi Gupta about how lithium-ion batteries can power the shift toward cleaner energy and a healthier future.
Potential adverse effects of climate change, known as climate risks, increasingly concern economists, city planners, ecologists, and many others. This week, we spoke with Dr. Ron Dembo, an expert in multi-factor scenario modeling, who is pioneering the use of AI to run climate risk assessments.
The Waverley Street Foundation seeks opportunities to create climate solutions through community engagement. By involving communities hit hard by climate change and the injustices that come with it, the Foundation seeks to show people around the world how cutting carbon emissions, implementing sustainable farming practices, and promoting clean energy can benefit people lives, rather than spreading the narrative, that people must sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of the planet.
Most current energy technologies burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Adopting low and zero-carbon technologies is one way to reduce emissions, but barriers such as high upfront and maintenance costs have impeded the adoption of these technologies. Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) arrangements make it easier for consumers to adopt energy-efficient technology. Under these arrangements, the EaaS provider provides the customer with an energy service, such as lighting, cooling, or heating, in exchange for a recurring fee. More energy efficient technology results in a lower carbon footprint.
As climate change impacts the economy, businesses are turning towards sustainable investments to strengthen their climate-resilience. We spoke with Rev. Kirsten Spalding of Ceres Investor Network to learn more about the significance of mobilizing investors toward building a sustainable economy.
How can we help developing countries finance climate action? We spoke with Kelly Varian, a policy analyst at UC Berkeley law, who proposes changes to the International Monetary Fund.