Some businesses show innovative climate action

Blistering heat wave hits Capital Region. Scorching weather here. Recordsmashing temperatures in the Northwest.

It seems like only bad news when it comes to climate change. But look beneath the headlines to see some hopeful stories. A company called Interface makes sustainable carpeting with recycled plastics and energy-efficient manufacturing. But Interface goes a further step by embedding plant-based material in its products. The result: Each 10’ x 20’ roll of carpeting stores 16 pounds of heat-trapping CO2, achieving negative emissions. Similar carbontech approaches are being developed for products like cement and building materials, though they aren’t yet ready for widespread use.

Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company, tells another hopeful story.

Massive cargo vessels crisscrossing the ocean emit nearly as much CO2 as all of South America. Maersk is developing hightech “sails,” wind-propulsion devices that together with promising clean fuels will make their trips emissions-free by 2050.

Maersk also goes further by supporting carbon pricing, a policy that attaches a pollution fee to the heattrapping emissions in fossil fuels. Asking oil and gas companies to pay such a fee is only fair as we all bear the growing economic and personal costs from climate disasters. Polluters’ fees will also propel clean-tech innovation.

Google Congress’ “Energy Innovation Act,” “Save Our Future Act” and “America’s Clean Future Fund Act” for excellent examples of carbon-pricing bills that protect ordinary people from higher energy costs by rebating revenues to American households. Tell your Congress member you support these policies and companies like Interface and Maersk that work toward a better future.

Eleanor Saunders Hillsdale