First published as part of the Innovation Excellence report featured in the May 31st, 2024 Globe and Mail, produced by Randall Anthony Communications.
Accelerating the Transition to Net Zero: Supporting climate-tech
Written by Sarah Goodman, President and CEO, B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE)
Clean technology isn’t just about climate change – it’s about outpacing global competition, driving productivity and guarding against national security and energy vulnerabilities in an unpredictable world, all while delivering affordable energy solutions. That’s why supporting our climate technology innovators is vital to securing a more sustainable and competitive future.
Globally, 55 per cent of the technologies crucial for achieving net-zero emissions, including electric vehicles and renewable energy generation, are available and cost competitive today – or will be soon. Yet significant strides are still needed to validate actionable decarbonization pathways, unlock capital and accelerate the development and adoption of essential net-zero technologies.
With 13 cleantech companies on the Global Cleantech 100 list, Canada stands out and is second only to the U.S. on the 2024 Global Cleantech Innovation Index. Despite favourable conditions – including public support for climate action, abundant resources, a skilled and diverse workforce, and a supportive startup culture – doing better is always possible. Canadian cautiousness can impede investments in research and development, capital flows into startups, and corporate adoption of emerging technologies.
The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy is the province’s largest climate investor, providing non-dilutive investments to advance breakthrough solutions and de-risk industry adoption. Our focus is on the next wave of technologies: low-carbon hydrogen, batteries and energy storage, carbon management and bio- and synthetic fuels. Launching May 31 is a first-of-its-kind call for wildfire tech innovation, investing up to $3-million in solutions related to wildfire prevention, mitigation and adaptation.
We are committed to building a collaborative support system – together with Indigenous rights holders, communities, government, industry, investors, venture builders and academia – for reframing climate change: from a wicked problem to a transformative opportunity.