Words by Smiley Team
During the 26th climate change conference (COP26) in Glasgow’s science centre, events around the city will draw attention to ways we can overcome the climate crisis. Among these initiatives, a Global Innovation Hub launched by the UN is showcasing exciting tech solutions to climate change - and it’s not what you might expect.
Live-streamed on the UN’s YouTube channel, the hub platforms imaginative breakthroughs which challenge the status quo. These go beyond commonly proffered technology such as electric vehicles and instead ask whether we need cars in the first place.
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Introducing the hub, the UN stated: “We should focus on what’s needed, not what’s currently possible. We need innovative mindsets and we need everyone: policymakers, tech leaders, finance experts, builders, doers, thinkers - everyone around the table.”
Already speakers have offered ideas for reshaping our growth-based economy into something more sustainable, with Mayor of Goyang City in South Korea, Lee Jae Joon offering his insight into redesigning the neighbourhoods for which he is responsible.
Martin Wainstein, executive director of the nonprofit Open Earth Foundation offered his ideas for systemic change through digital infrastructure. He said: “We think about Earth system governance and Earth system management. How do we have a climate internet to manage our roadmap to net zero?”
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The UN hopes such solutions will facilitate more ambitious climate action, aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sharing knowledge, skills.
They promise not to “stockpile underdeveloped inventions” but rather to spread understanding through success stories.
Located in a pavilion at COP26, the hub will host a huge range of speakers. Anyone interested in climate solutions is invited to visit by signing up here.
