Climate Questions, Climate Solutions

As the toll from Hurricane Helene rises and millions remain without water, food and power, we ask how we can address the often devastating effects of climate change.?

Climate Week was an excellent opportunity to shine a light on the multi-faceted problem of climate, and to discuss potential solutions.?It’s true that “hopeism,” as?Maxine Bédat points out, can obscure the very real problems we face. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t signs of hope.?

As Amy Rose of Fix the News?says , there is “plenty of evidence for a different story unfolding in corners of the planet near and far, a story of persistence, partnership and the grit of people driving change at the ground level.”

This week, join us as we round out our Climate Week coverage with a focus on just some of the work being done to build the path to a more sustainable future.

Spotlight: Why Renewables Cannot Replace Fossil Fuels

The rise of renewable power sources like solar and wind has been dramatic, offering hope for technologies?that are emerging to?replace our current fossil-fuel heavy grid. That future, however, is not now. In?this essay ,?engineer, entrepreneur?and?Aspen Institute ?trustee?Bill Budinger ?begins by?outlining the current constraints on the North American grid and?why renewables fall short?when it comes to providing sustainable baseload power. He ends with a defense of next generation nuclear. As examples, he points to France, which is over 70% dependent on nuclear power and has one of the cleanest grids on the continent. Countries like Korea, China and others are also doubling down on nuclear power programs.

In?last week’s issue , we highlighted?Microsoft’s move into nuclear power . More than a dozen of the world’s largest banks are also?increasing their support for nuclear energy .?While next generation nuclear still faces challenges on the permitting front, the bigger question is this: what is needed to win hearts and minds, and to replace memories of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island with a brighter vision?for the future?

?? Now Accepting Nominations!

Who in your companies or your networks is leading innovation that builds impact and business value?

We’re now accepting nominations for the?2025 class of First Mover Fellows ?and the?2025 class of Economic Mobility Fellows .

News Roundup

1. NY Climate Week 2024: 5 Key Takeaways ?(LinkedIn: Tim Mohin ) Now that ClimateWeek2024 has wrapped, what lessons can we take for action moving into the future?
2. Companies Ditch Big Climate Goals for ‘Pragmatic’ Solutions ?(TIME: Justin Worland ) While the public narrative highlights a business retreat from climate action, what’s really going on behind the scenes? (also see?GM’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kristen Siemen Talks Shop )
3. A Polluting, Coal-Fired Power Plant Found the Key to Solving America’s Biggest Clean Energy Challenge ?(CNN: Ella Nilsen , Bill Weir ) As the “cheap, clean energy boom” is delayed by grid and government considerations, can we solve at least some of our connection issues by repurposing existing infrastructure? (also see?An Elegant and Affordable Solution to Expanding the Grid )
4. How to Mobilize Private Climate Finance ?(Project Syndicate: Mette Frederiksen, Mia Amor Mottley ) “We know that it is possible to shift from fossil energy to renewables at the necessary speed and scale.” How do these leaders propose we finance it? (also see?How to Think About the Role of Private Capital in the Clean Transition )
5. The Winning Fight Against Climate Change Lies at the Intersection of Environmentalism and Economics ?(Fortune:?Amanda Leland ) What is the “smart path” through the “messy middle” of the climate transition?

Also on Our Radar

What else caught our attention this week?

• Shift toward for-profit structure puts OpenAI’s corporate soul at risk ?(for more on the possibilities of nonprofit governance, see?Why Novo Nordisk’s corporate structure stands out )
• How Big Business Lost Americans’ Trust ,?and can they get it back?
• A tiny town just got slammed by Helene. It could massively disrupt the tech industry
• Great question :?“Mutual aid keeps communities afloat in the moments after disasters strike. Why not turn it into a jobs program?”
• The?US port strike ?has begun.?

One for the Road

What did you learn during Climate Week, and where would you like to see it take us? Comment below, and subscribe for more on the topics that matter to our future. We’ll see you next week!

— The Business & Society Navigators

Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Welcome! View previous editions and?subscribe here !

Founded in 1998, the?Aspen Institute Business & Society Program ?works to align business decisions and investments with the long-term health of society—and the planet.