Making Climate Tech Work: Policies That Drive Innovation

Climate tech is critical for averting planetary chaos. Half the greenhouse gas reductions required to reach “net-zero”

climate targets in 2050 will need to come from technologies that have not yet been invented. Without effective

government interventions, market incentives alone will not produce a rapid transition to a low-carbon economy. The

commercial value of innovative climate technology, especially in its early phases, remains underpriced - far below its

social value. The good news is that smart policies can change these dynamics and catalyze the necessary creativity and

investment in clean technology, and its deployment. The key question is: which approaches can lead us to future carbon

neutrality, and which are likely to fall short?

In Making Climate Tech Work, environmental policy expert Alon Tal demystifies climate innovation programs around the

world - no policy background needed. Beginning with a review of government’s general role in technology policy

development, Tal assesses each policy alternative, describing eye-opening experiments in diverse countries, presenting a

range of case studies, interviewing leading decarbonization experts, and interpreting new empirical data. Discover how

Germany incentivized renewables; Denmark became a wind energy superpower; Australia phased out incandescent bulbs; California’s prisons pioneered low-carbon menus; and why carbon taxes have failed around the world, but could

be designed for success.

Tal distills the benefits and drawbacks of each policy, along with related ethical questions and public perceptions. He

concludes by addressing two commonly overlooked issues in climate policy: disruption of workers’ livelihoods from the

clean energy transition; and integrating the Global South into the planet’s new low-carbon economy - as the region that

has contributed least to climate change but which must be part of a global solution. Tal not only evaluates which policy

strategies effectively reduce emissions but also how they can promote climate tech innovation.

Humanity is ultimately in a race against time and effective climate policies are critical to ensure a sustainable future.

Making Climate Tech Work serves as an essential primer for policymakers, academics, activists, and anyone interested in

climate solutions.