The cleantech industry has much to be proud of during the past few decades. Renewables generate close to 20% of all U.S. electricity. Wind and solar energy prices have dropped more than 55% and 85%, respectively, since 2010. We can and should be proud of this progress.
But we must be honest with ourselves: We are still on the path toward the climate crisis cliff. Oil, coal, and gas still dominate global energy consumption at a time when we need to halve global emissions by 2030 – and be at net zero by 2050.
We can and must divert course before we reach that point. But how?
If we look at some of the biggest carbon polluters in the U.S. and beyond, the industrial sector and commercial real estate are two enormous culprits. According to DOE, the industrial sector accounts for 30 percent of energy-related carbon pollution. Buildings currently account for close to 40 percent of U.S. energy use.
It’s obvious: Doing business as usual won’t cut it. We need action from Fortune 5000 companies now to reverse our trajectory.