7 steps to solving climate change with clean technology

The author proposes a seven-step shift in the discourse and approach to climate change, emphasizing the deployment of existing energy-efficient technologies, the creation of new industrial markets, and the alignment of environmental goals with immediate economic benefits for both developed and emerging economies.

• The author suggests that focusing on the scale of the climate problem is depressing and insurmountable, and that mobilization requires emphasizing the benefits of existing clean solutions. It is claimed that CO2 emissions can be reduced by half by replacing old polluting devices in industry, construction, heating, cooling, lighting, and mobility with current energy-efficient technologies.
• Climate action should be framed as a source of economic growth and profit rather than a cost. The demand for environmentally friendly products and processes is creating new industrial markets, offering opportunities for job creation and profit.
• To avoid global opposition, investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency must be presented as profitable for both rich and emerging markets, rather than as a financial sacrifice for the former or a threat to the growth of the latter.
• The author argues that political goals for temperature limits or emission reductions are perceived as wishful thinking unless they are accompanied by concrete technological solutions and clear legal frameworks and procedures.
• There is a call to combine private initiative with regulations, noting that while society regulates health and education, it lacks regulations to prevent the waste of natural resources and energy.

APA

Piccard, B. (2015). 7 steps to solving climate change with clean technology. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/emerging-technologies/7-steps-to-solving-climate-change-with-clean-technology/

Chicago

Piccard, Bertrand. 7 steps to solving climate change with clean technology. World Economic Forum, 2015. https://www.weforum.org/stories/emerging-technologies/7-steps-to-solving-climate-change-with-clean-technology/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Piccard |first1=Bertrand |title=7 steps to solving climate change with clean technology |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=11 November 2015 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/emerging-technologies/7-steps-to-solving-climate-change-with-clean-technology/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{piccard2015steps, author = {Piccard, Bertrand}, title = {{7 steps to solving climate change with clean technology}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2015}, month = nov, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/emerging-technologies/7-steps-to-solving-climate-change-with-clean-technology/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }