Science tells us we can still prevent some of the worst climate change impacts, but there is a need to find viable solutions and promote those that already exist and are currently overshadowed by efforts to delay action. We live in an era of climate opportunity: finding innovative solutions to climate change-related challenges is a key aspect to transboundary climate negotiations. International gatherings such as the COP27 are important grounds to build a bridge between decision-makers and innovators from the private sector, including SMEs and finance.
Solutions range from global to local, presenting a wide variety of approaches in terms of actors involved and the scale considered. Among others, climate services contribute to the successful integration of scientific information in policies, business models and technological advances. Technological and digital innovation is at the forefront of the climate solution debate concerning sectors with the largest share of emissions worldwide, including transport, infrastructure and buildings.
Emissions follow the linear growth that is central to the current economic system. Envisioning climate solutions entails considering alternative economic models, such as the circular economy. A paradigm shift is fundamental to leave behind the current high-emission pathway, but finding solutions to adapt to a new climate in a less optimistic scenario is also crucial. Inspiration can come from the natural environment itself, leading to the so-called Nature based Solutions (NbS), actions that protect, manage and restore ecosystems with mutual benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity. Nature-based Solutions are used to design and devise sustainable infrastructure as well as protecting human systems from future extreme events.
All stakeholders involved are called to act in the creative process needed to limit the impacts of global warming, harnessing the different types of solutions available through dialogue, collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach.
