How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need

Businesses should be advising government R&D programs so that basic and applied research is focused on the ideas

Companies should reprioritize their R&D work, particularly on low-carbon innovations, many of which will require long-term commitments.

Established businesses can help by providing access to their testing facilities and providing data like cost metrics. If

Here are some specific steps the private sector can take along these lines: Set up an internal carbon tax. Some big companies now impose a carbon tax on each of their divisions. These companies aren’t paying

Joining industry advisory boards and taking part in planning exercises are low-cost ways to inform government R&D programs.

want to do more, they can offer fellowships and incubation programs for entrepreneurs, invest in new technology, create business divisions that are specifically focused on low-carbon innovation, and finance new low-emissions projects.

Like governments, companies can use the fact that they buy a lot of products to speed up the adoption of new technologies.

“When we have a fact-based worldview, we can see that the world is not as bad as it seems—and we can see what we have to do to keep making it better.” When we have a fact-based view of climate

Companies can’t be afraid of working with the government, any more than governments should be afraid of working with companies.