Technology has frequently been blamed for contributing to climate change, but technological innovation will be critical to achieving a net-zero economy.
Everyone has seen the climate crisis take hold this year more than ever before, with fires, floods, and extreme weather. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change only confirmed our worst fears.
Their global and unequivocal agreement exemplifies the severe consequences we face if the narrow window to avoid a temperature rise of more than 1.5°C is not grasped immediately.
To transition the real economy and millions of people’s lives, systemic solutions are required. It’s easy to be pessimistic. The challenges associated with the climate crisis and the effects of climate change are daunting, but there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic.
Technology has frequently been blamed for increasing CO2 emissions – and not without reason. As technology has permeated all aspects of the economy, it has contributed 2-3% of global emissions.
This must be addressed – in fact, to demonstrate its public commitment to working toward a zero-carbon economy, 40% of the global tech sector has signed up to the Race to Zero, a campaign that rallies business and regional leadership to unlock sustainable growth.
However, the entire sector is responsible for ensuring that we focus on the climate emergency, and another 60% has yet to commit to the Race to Zero – they must sign up now. It is critical that all technology companies set strong and stretching climate targets in order to determine what other transformations are required, whether that is redesigning business models, changing supply chains, or developing innovative solutions.
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That is not always an easy task, which is why TechUK published a climate action guidance for SMEs earlier this year to help them take sustainable action. However, a net-zero economy would be impossible to achieve without technological innovation. Every day, advancements in digital technologies push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of driving positive and long-term change.
Quantum computing is a prime example of a potentially revolutionary computational technology. Its positive impact on society as a whole knows no bounds, from developing new materials to discovering new pharmaceutical drugs – but nowhere is it more important than in combating climate change.
We are already seeing a shift away from devices that run on fossil fuels and toward devices that run on renewable energy, and as this transition continues, batteries will become an increasingly important part of our lives.
However, today’s batteries lack the energy density required for long journeys and are too costly for long-term energy storage. IBM and Daimler are currently employing quantum computing to develop next-generation batteries that will enable an increase in energy density.
That is only one example of many. Other technological breakthroughs, such as Hummingbird Technology’s use of artificial intelligence to enable regenerative agriculture and The Land App’s use of geospatial technology to create a future that fosters a thriving natural environment, are on the verge of a tech green revolution.
It is certain that digital technology will support the just transition to a zero-carbon economy; the question is whether society will be able to accelerate and enable this contribution in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The technology sector is inherently innovative, and with science demonstrating so clearly what needs to change, we must collaborate. Join TechUK’s members to help us deliver a better future for our planet if you are using digital innovations to build your path to net-zero.