Lightbulb Moments! Opportunities Ahead

Lightbulb Moments! Opportunities Ahead: Reaching 1.45°C of warming for 2023 was a big ‘aha’ moment. As we are now so close to the 1.5°C target, there is little margin for error so this month we look at opportunities ahead from building coastal resilience in Japan to algae carbon capture in Hong Kong. We also delve into alternate fuels like hydrogen and why not grab the opportunity this year to walk the talk by avoiding “lying brands”.

Don’t forget that adapting to climate risks can also bring new opportunities in jobs. Japan has historically developed by reclaiming coastal areas that are now at risk from sea level rise and large-scale disasters. And future risks are forecasted to be major like USD420 billion in asset damage in Tokyo from just high tide disasters.

The Japanese government has succeeded in reducing damage by investing billions in infrastructure, introducing Coastal Laws and other strategies as Mikio Ishiwatari, Senior Advisor at the Japan International Cooperation Agency shows. Plus, see how these strategies have evolved and what science Japan is using to build resilience to future risks.

Meanwhile, closer to home in Hong Kong, ALcarbo Technologies is trying to slow down warming with its innovative algae technology that captures carbon. Did you know that algae can capture 40x more carbon than trees making it a cost-effective and space-saving solution, which is key for urban cities with limited land.

Learn more about ALcarbo’s algae photobioreactor system, next steps and challenges in our interview with Founder and Co-Founders Nelson Pok Him Ng, Bill Kwan Wai Chan and Rex Yan Chu Cheung.

There’s no doubt we also need alternate fuels like hydrogen. But producing hydrogen can be water intensive depending on the method. To get the lowdown, we talk to Tianyi Luo, Director at Bluerisk and co-author of the report ‘Water for Hydrogen Production’.

Luo unpacks which is the most and least water-efficient clean hydrogen production technologies, its share of the energy sector’s water withdrawals and how carbon capture can exacerbate water intensity.

With such a small margin for error we can’t afford to make the wrong decisions, so see why it’s always best to go with “green” hydrogen! We can’t afford carbon solutions that bring water problems.

Another thing we shouldn’t get wrong is supporting greenwashing, especially when cases are up around the world. Conscious consumers now have the opportunity to walk the talk. Don’t spend your money on “lying brands”!  – Robin Hicks, Associate Editor at Eco-Business calls out 22 brands for greenwashing.

Hicks casts a critical eye over brand claims which failed the green test in 2023. See which big brands made the list. And as APAC policymakers are taking more steps to police green claims, errant brands may also take a hit – so consume and invest wisely.

It’s down to us to grab these opportunities to slow down warming. Use this lightbulb moment of 1.45°C to make sound decisions today for water tomorrow. Who knows… you may even rake in millions of dollars whilst saving the planet.

To stay prosperous be sure to catch next month’s “5 Trends for the Year of the Dragon” – sign up to our newsletter if not already!