What can we really do about Climate Change?

Project Drawdown, a comprehensive plan to reverse global warming, has 100 practical solutions for you to consider. Addressing climate change in a way that is truly meaningful is what they are all about.

Who?

Drawdown is the work of a prominent and growing coalition of geologists, engineers, agronomists, researchers, fellows, writers, climatologists, biologists, botanists, economists, financial analysts, architects, companies, agencies, NGOs, activists, and other experts who draft, model, fact check, review, and validate all text, inputs, sources, and calculations. Their purpose is to provide helpful information and tools to a wide variety of actors who are dedicated to meaningful change: students, teachers, researchers, philanthropists, investors, entrepreneurs, business people, farmers, policymakers, engaged citizens, and more.

To be a tad more precise, if you check out the list of their advisers (here), you will spot familiar organisations such as 350 org, the Sierra Club, Boston University, etc… and familiar names such as Michael Mann of Penn State university.

What solutions have they got?

Below is a table of their top 80 solutions. I’ve cut and pasted it from their website, because each has a clickable link that you can use to jump into it and explore it in a lot more detail.

Rank Solution Sector TOTAL ATMOSPHERIC CO2-EQ REDUCTION (GT) NET COST (BILLIONS US $) SAVINGS (BILLIONS US $) 
Refrigerant ManagementMaterials89.74 N/A $-902.77 
Wind Turbines (Onshore)Electricity Generation84.60 $1,225.37 $7,425.00 
Reduced Food WasteFood70.53 N/A N/A 
Plant-Rich DietFood66.11 N/A N/A 
Tropical ForestsLand Use61.23 N/A N/A 
Educating GirlsWomen and Girls51.48 N/A N/A 
Family PlanningWomen and Girls51.48 N/A N/A 
Solar FarmsElectricity Generation36.90 $-80.60 $5,023.84 
SilvopastureFood31.19 $41.59 $699.37 
10 Rooftop SolarElectricity Generation24.60 $453.14 $3,457.63 
11 Regenerative AgricultureFood23.15 $57.22 $1,928.10 
12 Temperate ForestsLand Use22.61 N/A N/A 
13 PeatlandsLand Use21.57 N/A N/A 
14 Tropical Staple TreesFood20.19 $120.07 $626.97 
15 AfforestationLand Use18.06 $29.44 $392.33 
16 Conservation AgricultureFood17.35 $37.53 $2,119.07 
17 Tree IntercroppingFood17.20 $146.99 $22.10 
18 GeothermalElectricity Generation16.60 $-155.48 $1,024.34 
19 Managed GrazingFood16.34 $50.48 $735.27 
20 NuclearElectricity Generation16.09 $0.88 $1,713.40 
21 Clean CookstovesFood15.81 $72.16 $166.28 
22 Wind Turbines (Offshore)Electricity Generation14.10 $545.30 $762.50 
23 Farmland RestorationFood14.08 $72.24 $1,342.47 
24 Improved Rice CultivationFood11.34 N/A $519.06 
25 Concentrated SolarElectricity Generation10.90 $1,319.70 $413.85 
26 Electric VehiclesTransport10.80 $14,148.00 $9,726.40 
27 District HeatingBuildings and Cities9.38 $457.10 $3,543.50 
28 Multistrata AgroforestryFood9.28 $26.76 $709.75 
29 Wave and TidalElectricity Generation9.20 $411.84 $-1,004.70 
30 Methane Digesters (Large)Electricity Generation8.40 $201.41 $148.83 
31 InsulationBuildings and Cities8.27 $3,655.92 $2,513.33 
32 ShipsTransport7.87 $915.93 $424.38 
33 LED Lighting (Household)Buildings and Cities7.81 $323.52 $1,729.54 
34 BiomassElectricity Generation7.50 $402.31 $519.35 
35 BambooLand Use7.22 $23.79 $264.80 
36 Alternative CementMaterials6.69 $-273.90 N/A 
37 Mass TransitTransport6.57 N/A $2,379.73 
38 Forest ProtectionLand Use6.20 N/A N/A 
39 Indigenous Peoples’ Land ManagementLand Use6.19 N/A N/A 
40 TrucksTransport6.18 $543.54 $2,781.63 
41 Solar WaterElectricity Generation6.08 $2.99 $773.65 
42 Heat PumpsBuildings and Cities5.20 $118.71 $1,546.66 
43 AirplanesTransport5.05 $662.42 $3,187.80 
44 LED Lighting (Commercial)Buildings and Cities5.04 $-205.05 $1,089.63 
45 Building AutomationBuildings and Cities4.62 $68.12 $880.55 
46 Water Saving – HomeMaterials4.61 $72.44 $1,800.12 
47 BioplasticMaterials4.30 $19.15 N/A 
48 In-Stream HydroElectricity Generation4.00 $202.53 $568.36 
49 CarsTransport4.00 $-598.69 $1,761.72 
50 CogenerationElectricity Generation3.97 $279.25 $566.93 
51 Perennial BiomassLand Use3.33 $77.94 $541.89 
52 Coastal WetlandsLand Use3.19 N/A N/A 
53 System of Rice IntensificationFood3.13 N/A $677.83 
54 Walkable CitiesBuildings and Cities2.92 N/A $3,278.24 
55 Household RecyclingMaterials2.77 $366.92 $71.13 
56 Industrial RecyclingMaterials2.77 $366.92 $71.13 
57 Smart ThermostatsBuildings and Cities2.62 $74.16 $640.10 
58 Landfill MethaneBuildings and Cities2.50 $-1.82 $67.57 
59 Bike InfrastructureBuildings and Cities2.31 $-2,026.97 $400.47 
60 CompostingFood2.28 $-63.72 $-60.82 
61 Smart GlassBuildings and Cities2.19 $932.30 $325.10 
62 Women SmallholdersWomen and Girls2.06 N/A $87.60 
63 TelepresenceTransport1.99 $127.72 $1,310.59 
64 Methane Digesters (Small)Electricity Generation1.90 $15.50 $13.90 
65 Nutrient ManagementFood1.81 N/A $102.32 
66 High-speed RailTransport1.52 $1,038.42 $368.10 
67 Farmland IrrigationFood1.33 $216.16 $429.67 
68 Waste-to-EnergyElectricity Generation1.10 $36.00 $19.82 
69 Electric BikesTransport0.96 $106.75 $226.07 
70 Recycled PaperMaterials0.90 $573.48 N/A 
71 Water DistributionBuildings and Cities0.87 $137.37 $903.11 
72 BiocharFood0.81 N/A N/A 
73 Green RoofsBuildings and Cities0.77 $1,393.29 $988.46 
74 TrainsTransport0.52 $808.64 $313.86 
75 RidesharingTransport0.32 N/A $185.56 
76 Micro WindElectricity Generation0.20 $36.12 $19.90 
77 Energy Storage (Distributed)Electricity GenerationN/A N/A N/A 
77 Energy Storage (Utilities)Electricity GenerationN/A N/A N/A 
77 Grid FlexibilityElectricity GenerationN/A N/A N/A 
78 MicrogridsElectricity GenerationN/A N/A N/A 
79 Net Zero BuildingsBuildings and CitiesN/A N/A N/A 
80 RetrofittingBuildings and CitiesN/A N/A N/A 
1034.75$29,609.30$74,362.37

How Much do you really know?

OK, so this last bit is a pointer to a fun quiz. CNN has taken their facts and figures and rendered them into a set of 8 drag and drop selections. Below for example is an image of their “Moving People and Goods” bit …

The idea is to rank them by dragging the tiles into the order that has the most imp[act upon climate and then click the button to see how you did. (No not above, that’s just a screenshot, on the CNN website).

So looking at the above 4 options, which will have the greatest impact upon climate change?

You can click here to jump to the CNN site and give it a go to find out. Don’t worry if you get it wrong, it is not a test and you would not be expected to know. This is simply a fun way to learn a bit more.

One Last Thought

Why is Project Drawdown truly significant?

One reason – There is no other plan in the world to actually reverse global warming trends. If we step up to the mark and execute it, then this actually will, it is viable meaningful solution.

References

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