The concept of Drawdown, is that in order to reverse global warming, we don’t just need to halt the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, rather we need to bring them back down. I was a research fellow for Project Drawdown, which published a book of “ The 100 most substantive solutions to reverse global warming, based on meticulous research by leading scientists and policymakers around the world”. This book is now a NYT Bestseller and is available in several languages (currently being translated into 10 languages).
I’ve been excited to see more and more cities, states, countries and businesses commit to strong renewable energy goals and even to net zero standards. According to the Sierra Club, in “the U.S. over 65 cities, more than five counties and one state, have already adopted ambitious 100% clean energy goals. Five cities in the U.S. …have already hit their targets ”.
Recently, some communities and businesses have realized the need to go even further than that and have committed to assist in the net drawdown of greenhouse gases.
While negative net emissions are likely decades off for most cities, countries, and businesses, some are achieving this goal already! Below are examples of drawdown commitments and policies, and a few examples of drawdown in action!
Has your community or company committed to net zero and beyond? Let me know in the comments and I will add them here!
Berkeley, CA
I lived in Berkeley from 1999–2002 and it was an eye-opening experience. I loved seeing the kinds of things the city government passed. Recently, the city committed to a net drawdown to help address the “climate emergency”.
Last night, Berkeley, CA declared a climate emergency -- committing to not only net zero carbon emissions by 2030, but a *net drawdown*.
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) June 13, 2018
This sets the new standard for what those of us with means should be striving for at this critical moment in Earth history. https://t.co/BfXuV6Jecx
Marin County, CA
Marin County, home to, and inspired by, Project Drawdown, has their own Drawdown program which aims to “eliminate fossil fuels, electrify everything, power everything using renewable energy, and sequester carbon in our landscape, truly ‘drawing down’ the amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the activities in our communities”. https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cd/divisions/sustainability/climate-and-adaptation/drawdown-marin
Project Drawdown, Europe
A European hub of Project Drawdown was recently launched by EIT Climate-KIC, together with the German Energy Agency (DENA) and the European Climate Foundation (ECF) have launched Project Drawdown Europe
Hawaii, US
Hawaii has committed to using 100% renewable energy and being carbon neutral by 2045. Hopefully they will take the next step and commit to helping drawdown GHGs!
Gabon, Romania, Chile, Bhutan, and Fiji
You might think this sounds like a pretty random list of countries. What could they possibly have in common? Well, according to World Resources Institute’s CAIT Climate Data Explorer, these countries were actually achieving drawdown, at the country level, in 2014! (which is the most recent year this data is available for)
Now, I’m not sure climate concerns played a major role in any of these countries achievement of this milestone; rather I believe dramatic changes in political and economic systems played a role in some, while low populations and geographical setting boosted others. However these examples show that it can be done and with continual improvements in the cost and efficiency of renewable and storage technologies this goal will only get easier for more countries to strive towards and achieve.
For more, check this list of companies and countries who have committed to carbon neutrality.