We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Science

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Climate Technology?

By Eugene P.
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,909
Share

Climate technology is new and emerging equipment aimed at reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. This technology can take nearly any form but, in general, is designed to fit into a new type of carbon-neutral or carbon-free infrastructure. The largest areas of research and development into climate technology are power generation and transportation, because they are some of the largest producers of greenhouse gases. It is generally accepted that the process of integrating new climate technology so it is in daily widespread use is a process that will likely take several decades, if not longer.

One field of climate technology that has seen some great advances is energy production. The goal is to find a new way to generate power without using fossil fuels or other methods that could create environmentally harmful byproducts. Technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines have been refined to be very efficient and are used around the world to provide an alternate source of energy in some countries. New climate technology also is driving research into sources such as biomass, in which the heat from organic matter decomposing is harnessed, and hydrogen plants.

Another place where climate technologies are making a difference is in the transportation industry. Public transportation has started in the early 21st century to employ buses that run on electricity and trains that use solar or other alternate power sources. Automobiles have been developed that can run on fuels such as ethanol, hydrogen and used cooking oils. The engines also have been modified so they are more efficient, reducing the need for excessive amounts of fuel.

There are other fields in which climate technology is making a difference, sometimes in small ways that make a large difference when measuring carbon emissions as a whole. One example is the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). This bulb replaces traditional incandescent bulbs and uses nearly 90 percent less energy in some cases. The overall reduction in power consumption can have a massive effect when an entire nation switches to using them, because fossil-fuel-burning power plants will need to produce less electricity over time.

One challenge that comes with developing climate technology is that it needs to be part of an overall infrastructure to be truly effective. This can be seen with cars that use alternate fuels, because there is not always a network of fueling stations that carry the new fuel, so the cars cannot be used in all areas. Part of the climate technology that must still be implemented is a strong and open infrastructure that can accept the environmentally responsible changes needed to adopt the new technologies.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-climate-technology.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.