In recent months, we’ve seen the effects of climate change really wreak havoc upon the world. Not only did temperatures in the UK reach temperatures of 104°F, but the flooding in Pakistan devastated over a third of the country. We’ve known for a long time that something needs to be done about climate change, but it’s only now that we’ve seen just how detrimental the effects of climate change can be. In order to combat this issue that has been developing for years on end, we need the help of modern tech solutions. Listed below are some of the top tech solutions that can help climate change.
Remote Working
First up is something that became common as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and some companies have adopted this mode of working permanently. The vast majority of office jobs can be done from home, and if every company adopted this work model, it would significantly reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the air. In fact, people commuting to and from work is the largest source of carbon emissions in the developed world. Despite this, this may only be effective in the warmer months, as it’s more energy efficient to heat a room with numerous people than have single people distributed across their homes.
Climate Repair
Climate repair refers to how we can go about amending the damage that has been done and is continuing to be done by human pollution. Some of these climate repair measures include the spraying of salt droplets into the sky. In doing this, the clouds will radiate reflection back into space, making them appear brighter. As a result, we may be able to successfully refreeze the poles.
Additionally, it has been suggested that we could fertilize the ocean in order to encourage algae and plant matter to grow. From this, more CO2 could be absorbed; however, this plan has reservations, as it could disrupt the ecosystem of the ocean.
Tasty Insects
Veganism is taking off; however, when it comes to combatting climate change, veganism may have to take a step back in favor of eating insects. This is because cattle farming produces copious amounts of methane, and insect substitutes for meat might be just what we need in order to tackle climate change. Insects are some of the most suitable substitutes, as they’re still so rich in protein, meaning that one won’t have to compromise their health in sticking with their moral principles. As of now, insect burgers remain a novelty, but they could really take off in the coming years.
Feeding Cows Seaweed
As previously mentioned, cattle farming produces a lot of methane, and this mainly comes from the cows’ diet. If cattle consumed seaweed in favor of grass, then methane emissions could be reduced by as much as 80%. Despite this, there are currently 1.5 billion herds of cattle globally, meaning that there is nowhere near enough seaweed to account for every cow in the world. As a result, scientists may have to develop a new ingredient in order to strive forward in our battle against climate change.
Carbon Capture
Last but not least is carbon capture, which aims to capture CO2 produced in power plants and industrial processes and transport the emissions several miles below the North Sea. As a result, this carbon could no longer contribute to the greenhouse effect, and this would lead to carbon intensive industries being reduced to zero by 2030. Despite this, the intensity of the issue requires a lot more than selective decarbonization. The whole world needs to be on board.