Technology RDD&D

This chapter discusses the technology development that needs to underpin an agreement. The patent system allows the inventor of a useful new technology the exclusive right to use that new precursor or technology for a period of twenty years from the date of filing, or hold a temporary monopoly over that technology, which slows down the pace of technological change and could pose problems on the park of achieving the 2-degree C limit. In order to get the technologies necessary to achieve the target, we cannot leave it to the market alone because private companies will still be looking for profits instead of working towards directed technological change as led by governments. Directed technological change includes the public, private, and foundation sectors, and it means setting goals and timelines for technological advances as well as financing from multiple directions, because it is very expensive. Some of the breakthroughs necessary in the coming years are the feasibility of large-scale carbon capture and sequestration, safer nuclear power, solutions for the storage of wind and solar power, high quality electric vehicles, the decarbonization of industry, and the technological improvements of agriculture and land use sectors. This video is part of the module Towards a New Climate Agreement Based on 2-Degree.

This video is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA license.