Rethinking Climate Change

The page summarizes a RethinkX report arguing that current technologies can drive deep emissions cuts if policymakers choose to accelerate them. It says the biggest opportunities are in energy, transportation, and food, and that these disruptions can also lower costs, expand access to electricity, and help reach net zero and then go beyond it.

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• RethinkX released a report called “Rethinking Climate Change” about cutting emissions through disruptions in energy, transportation, and food.
• The report says the world already has the technologies needed to reduce more than 90% of greenhouse gas emissions within 15 years.
• It argues that the right societal choices can keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius.
• The largest energy-sector opportunities are solar PVs, wind power, and lithium-ion storage batteries.
• In transportation, the report points to electric vehicles and autonomous EVs, with transportation-as-a-service and the end of internal combustion engines and private vehicle ownership.
• In food, it highlights precision fermentation and cellular agriculture as technologies that can replace meat and animal-based products.
• The report says these technologies become even more effective when feedback loops between the three sectors are considered.
• It says disruptive technologies can help close wealth and technology gaps by scaling electricity access to billions of people without electricity today.
• One scenario, “Get Serious,” projects over 60% lower GHG emissions by 2030 and 100% before 2035.
• Another, “Be Sensible,” says 90% GHG reductions by 2035 and net zero by 2040 are possible by removing deployment barriers and supporting core technologies.
• The “Get Stuck” scenario warns that delays, fossil fuel subsidies, utility monopolies, and support for livestock could push temperatures above 2 degrees Celsius.
• The report includes a framework for judging the mitigation-readiness of climate solution technologies.