Right now, we are taking more than we give from the Earth. The way we’re working through the world’s resources is unsustainable and dangerous.
Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have released over 1.5 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide or CO2 into the earth's atmosphere. In the year 2019, we were still pumping out around 37 billion more. That’s 50% more than the year 2000 and almost three times as much as 50 years ago.
And it’s not just CO2. We’re also pumping outgrowing volumes of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. Combining all of our greenhouse gases, we’re emitting 51 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents each year. And emissions keep rising – but they need to get down to 0. It’s not about saving the planet, it’s about keeping it habitable for all the living creatures on it, including ourselves. Because with this speed at which things are changing, the future seems not that bright for any of us.
To prevent the worst effects of climate change, we need to get to zero net greenhouse gas emissions in every sector of the economy within 50 years—and as the IPCC recently found, we need to be on a path to doing it in the next 10 years. That means dealing with electricity, and the other 75% too.
Where do greenhouse gas emissions come from? Bill Gates breaks it down into five main categories—what he calls the grand challenges in stopping climate change.
<aside> 💚 Environmentally sustainable design (also called environmentally conscious design, eco design, etc.) is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability.
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"Sustainable design is the approach to creating products and services that have considered the environmental, social, and economic impacts from the initial phase through to the end of life. EcoDesign is a core tool in the matrix of approaches that enables the Circular Economy." — Leyla Acaroglu, Quick Guide to Sustainable Design Strategies
The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental impact completely through skilful, sensitive design". Manifestations of sustainable design require renewable resources and innovation to impact the environment minimally and connect people with the natural environment.