Climate change solutions

How to stop climate change?

Climate experts are formal: the earth is warming and at a sustained rate. The cause is the increase in greenhouse gases of human origin, with the consequences of health, ecological and humanitarian crises of which we are seeing the beginnings. What is the meaning of climate change? What are the causes of climate change and its consequences? And finally what are the possible solutions?

01. Definition

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is a global modification of the climate over a long period of time (from decades to millions of years). These changes can occur both regionally and globally. By climate change we mean the increase in temperature from the middle of the 20th century to the present day. Even if climate change can also have natural causes, it is largely related to human activity and greenhouse gases.

02. Causes

Climate change causes

Greenhouse gases: greenhouse gases allow the sun to shine unimpeded on the Earth's surface. Natural greenhouse gases ensure a temperature suitable for life on Earth as opposed to man-made gases which cause a very high increase in heat. They prevent the heat from being reflected back into space and redirect it to the Earth. There are many greenhouse gases but here is a list of 6 gases regulated by the Paris Agreement.These are the ones that have the greatest impact on climate change:

Carbon Dioxides
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Sulphur Hexafluoride
Perfluorocarbons
Hydrofluorocarbons

03. Impacts

Climate change effects

Some of the consequences of global warming have already been established by scientists. Here are some of them:

Global Warming: the main effect of climate change is of course global warming. With an increasingly rapid growth of the planet's temperature due to human activities such as deforestation, intensive agriculture, mining or over-consumption.
Air pollution: the main greenhouse gas is not counted as an air pollutant because it does not appear to affect health. However, there are links between climate change and global warming, such as the atmospheric concentration of some pollutants in the air.
Water Pollution: water pollution and climate change are closely linked, both in rivers, seas and oceans. This pollution manifests itself in particular through changes in the flows of the various rivers, the increase in temperature and the pollutants concentration in the water.
Land Pollution: the soil is equally hard hit by climate change. Human activity is significantly changing the climate and the nature of soils, which are both very fragile and most of the time over-exploited.

04. Solutions

Climate Change Solutions

The Solar Impulse Label is granted to innovative solutions to fight climate change that meet high standards of sustainability and profitability. Each solution goes through a strict assessment process performed by independent experts.

FAIRMAT closing the loop on carbon fiber

Nov 2023

FAIRMAT closing the loop on carbon fiber

Collecting carbon fiber waste and turning them into tailor-made products for high-performance applications

Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)

Oct 2020

SolisConfort

Autonomous, innovative and efficient solar heating for households

Buildings & Constructions
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)

Dec 2024

Renewable protein

Kyanos focuses on developing a sustainable micro-algae based protein production inspired by natural ecosystems.

Agrifood & Natural Environment
Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods

Jul 2021

LORENTZ solar water pumps

Using the sun to pump water for people, livestock and crops worldwide

Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Agrifood & Natural Environment

05. Implementations

Climate Change Solutions Implementations

SkySun's Solar Finance by SKYSUN implemented by M.I.M - Marché Intercommunal Mouscronnois in Mouscron (Belgium) in 2024

Fill4Life by Fluitec implemented by SRP (Mesquite) - Arizona electric power and water utility company in Arlington (United States) in 2012

Hivenet by Hivenet implemented by Inria (French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology) in Le Chesnay Cedex (France) in 2022

Tiamat Sodium-ion cells by Tiamat Energy implemented by Adeo in Lille (France) in 2023

HighKi Wood and SuteKi Wood by Kiwood implemented by SNERCT in Paris (France) in 2022

BIOHUT® by ECOCEAN implemented by Port of Fréjus in Fréjus (France) in 2018

Cleanea, Tomorrow’s Clean Today by Cleanea implemented by L'Oréal in Paris (France) in 2015

Elemental Water Source by Elemental Water Makers implemented by Save the Children in Hafun (Somalia) in 2023

BioVALO by IDEAL Environnement implemented by SCEA Du Mont Au Roux in Cléville (France) in 2021

Uzaje, industrial solutions to reuse packaging by Uzaje implemented by City of Avignon in Avignon (France) in 2022

Uzaje, industrial solutions to reuse packaging by Uzaje implemented by Ideel Garden in Neuilly-sur-Marne (France) in 2021

Attributes Power by Attributes implemented by Air Products in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (France) in 2018

Offshore Floating Solar Units by SolarinBlue implemented by Port de Sète in Sète (France) in 2023

Ways2H Hydrogen Solution by Ways2H, Inc. implemented by United Kingdom in UK (United Kingdom) in 2021

Solar Thermal High-Vacuum Panels by TVP SOLAR implemented by PepsiCo in Minas Gerais (Brazil) in 2022

Solar Thermal High-Vacuum Panels by TVP SOLAR implemented by Emmi Group in Langnau (Switzerland) in 2022

06. Conclusion

Climate change prevention

Good news - there are ways to reduce Climate Change. What solutions to consider?

Renewable energies: changing our main energy sources to clean and renewable energy. Solar, Wind, Geothermal and biomass could be the solution.
Sustainable transportation: our transport methods must be aligned with environmental requirements and reduce their carbon footprint. It is essential to rethink our transport methods from the design stage towards eco-friendly transportation.
Air pollution prevention: many methods exist to prevent, control and reduce air pollution, in particular by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, and limiting industry emissions and waste.
Waste Management & recycling: the simplest solution to reduce waste is to adapt our production methods to our consumption patterns. The recycling process must also be taken into account in our consumption habits.
Sea and Ocean preservation: oceans and seas are the largest storage of greenhouse gases and are an exceptional support system for life on this planet. Limiting overfishing, unsustainable development activities in coastal areas and the consumption of environmentally friendly products is now essential.
Circular economy: use the 3 r's of circular economy (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) to significantly reduce our waste and avoid unnecessary production of new items.

Connect with us

Any questions

Feel free to get in touch with us
pauline.michiels@solarimpulse.com

Explorer for sustainability

Bertrand dedicates his life to demonstrate the opportunities lying in sustainable development and to raise interest in profitable solutions to protect the environment.

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As a pioneer, he understood that fighting climate change with clean and efficient technologies is opening-up new industrial markets and offering a unique and profitable opportunity for economic growth.

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The Solar Impulse Foundation has entered in close and impactful collaboration with several international institutions, corporations, states and cities around the world to facilitate the identification, assessment, funding and implementation of efficient solutions.

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