Magnitude: Notes from Session 4 of TED Countdown Summit 2023

TED Countdown Summit 2023: Session 4

Introduction

To rise to the challenge of climate change, we need big, bold, gigaton-scale solutions. Session 4 of TED Countdown Summit 2023 focused on the clean technologies that need to scale fast — and made space for ideas on radical climate leadership, the use of art for environmental activism and the push for climate-friendly alternatives to the world’s most-consumed foods.

Event Details

• Date and Location: Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Fillmore Detroit in Detroit, Michigan
• Hosts: Lindsay Levin (TED) and Ryan Panchadsaram (systems innovator)

Speakers

1. Olivia Breese (Energy Innovator)
2. Jim Snabe (Chairman of Siemens and Northvolt)
3. John O’Donnell (Engineer)
4. Isabella Kirkland (Artist)
5. Marcelo Mena (Biochemical Engineer)
6. Jim Whitaker (Sustainability Advocate) and Jessica Whitaker Allen (Conservation Coordinator)
7. Tao Zhang (Impact Investor)

Talk Summaries

Talk 1: Olivia Breese – Green Molecules for Clean Energy

Olivia Breese, an energy innovator, envisions a world powered entirely by green energy. She proposes the use of green molecules, which can store and release energy without emitting carbon dioxide, as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Breese emphasizes the need for global investment in green molecule production to achieve a clean energy future.

Talk 2: Jim Snabe – Radical Leadership for Climate Solutions

Jim Snabe, chairman of Siemens and Northvolt, highlights the importance of radical leadership in addressing the climate crisis. He introduces the TED Future Forum (TFF), a new initiative focused on the role of business in advancing climate solutions. Snabe invites individuals and companies to join TFF’s collaborative effort to transform the global economy and avoid a climate disaster.

Talk 3: John O’Donnell – Heat Batteries for Industrial Processes

John O’Donnell, an engineer, presents a solution for storing renewable energy to meet the constant heat requirements of industrial processes. His company, Rondo, produces heat batteries made of stacked bricks that can store large amounts of energy. O’Donnell advocates for the widespread adoption of this cost-effective and efficient system to green industrial processes worldwide.

Talk 4: Isabella Kirkland – Art as Activism for Nature Conservation

Isabella Kirkland, an artist, uses her paintings to raise awareness about the beauty and rarity of species that once inhabited our planet. She advocates for the conservation of nature and highlights the dangers of wildlife trade. Kirkland’s art serves as a call to action, urging individuals to celebrate and protect all living creatures.

Talk 5: Marcelo Mena – Methane Reduction for Climate Mitigation

Marcelo Mena, a biochemical engineer, addresses the urgent need to reduce methane emissions from landfills and livestock. He introduces the Waste MAP (Methane Assessment Platform), which uses satellite information to identify pollution sources. Mena also discusses the enteric fermentation R&D accelerator, a research effort aimed at reducing livestock emissions and creating a cleaner future.

Talk 6: Jim Whitaker and Jessica Whitaker Allen – Sustainable Rice Farming

Jim Whitaker, a fifth-generation rice farmer, and Jessica Whitaker Allen, a conservationist, collaborate to promote sustainable rice farming practices. They emphasize the environmental impacts of rice production and propose farming protocols that reduce water use, methane emissions, and the need for fertilizer. The duo aims to spread these practices to farmers worldwide to preserve land for future generations.

Talk 7: Tao Zhang – Shifting Chinese Diets for Climate Change

Tao Zhang, an impact investor, discusses the potential of shifting Chinese diets towards climate-friendly alternative proteins. He addresses the cultural barriers to adopting mock meat in China and highlights the business opportunity in investing in food innovation. Zhang emphasizes the need for research and development to create affordable and tasty meat-free proteins.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected:

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • SDG 13: Climate Action
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • SDG 15: Life on Land

2. Specific Targets:

   • SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
   • SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
   • SDG 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
   • SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards
   • SDG 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds
   • SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats

3. Indicators:

   • Investment in green molecule production for renewable energy (not explicitly mentioned in the article, but implied by Olivia Breese’s talk)
   • Number of companies committing to greater climate ambition (mentioned in Jim Snabe’s talk)
   • Number of cities using Waste MAP to identify pollution sources and reduce methane emissions (mentioned in Marcelo Mena’s talk)
   • Reduction in methane emissions from livestock through R&D efforts (mentioned in Marcelo Mena’s talk)
   • Adoption of sustainable farming protocols to reduce environmental impacts of rice production (mentioned in Jim Whitaker and Jessica Whitaker Allen’s talk)
   • Investment in food innovation to create meat-free proteins (mentioned in Tao Zhang’s talk)

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: blog.ted.com

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