How to Transition to a Low Carbon Economy by 2030? Enter Masdar's Contest to win a Trip to Abu Dhabi's Sustainability Week in January, 2016!

Posted by: Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

How can we transition to a low carbon economy by 2030?

Click on this link, and pen a blog post with YOUR ideas to win a trip to Abu Dhabi's Sustainability week in January, 2016!

http://masdar.ae/en/intiatives/detail/masdars-2016-engage-blogging-contest-the-transition-to-a-low-carbon-economy


Official Question:

“In your view, what are the policies that governments should adopt to encourage public-private partnership and enable the private sector to develop the goods and services necessary for a global transition to a low-carbon economy by 2030?”

Some of my thoughts are below - What do YOU think? Please feel welcome to reply. I have not focused on government policies alone, as I believe a top down approach alone will not work. I firmly believe we can only succeed in reducing the impacts of climate change through a combination of policies, and corporate activism, and inclusion of people and organizations from all sectors. We need more government action, but we can’t wait for the government alone – we need more sustainable entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs. And we need to start sharing our ideas – and acting on them.


COP21 set some ambitious goals for combating climate change, and it’s clear we must reduce carbon and other emissions in our atmosphere. How can we do this?

1. By Working Together. Whether you are a fervent environmentalist and believer in man-made climate change or not, we can find common ground, and we must work together - across business and national boundaries to increase sustainable opportunity and to do this in a way that benefits people, planet and the bottom line. COP21 set a great model of how entire nations with sincere points of disagreement can work together to find ways to agree, to get on a common path - and to commit to taking action and to continuously improve.

2. By Sharing Information. We must share information among experts and beginners, and between countries and companies. What one nation or person knows can help another. Imagine conversations taking place across the globe regarding the best technologies and applications and practices? The impact would be profound.

3. By Being Inclusive. Pollution affects everyone and crosses border, so we must bring everyone into the carbon conversation. This means experts and residents and professionals, government officials, and whole nations. We can’t write policies people will not agree to follow or feel inspired to follow, but we can work together with people and companies to find common policies they want to follow - if and because they helped create them.

4. By getting Creative about how to get the work done. We need to brainstorm and generate ideas! What about using National Service in support of carbon and climate goals? Or, new jobs programs? And yes, subsidies. We need to experiment and try new practices and programs. And then we need to measure and see what works. Along the way, we will have an impact and create jobs, and support our global economy as well. Green IS good for business!

5. By being Bold and Showing Leadership. Governments do need to show courage and to take actions that not everyone will like. This is too great a crisis to stand back and wait for others to fix it. We do need a price on carbon. And we do need clean air and water policies, and great building codes that stretch and challenge us to do better. How can we enact these policies faster? By working with people and companies to develop them, and by helping people and companies negatively affected by change. Everyone should benefit ultimately as we move to a greener economy. When we lose one job, we need to retrain that person for a new, greener job. When people and companies see that they are included and respected, they will in turn better support policies and legislation regarding carbon. This is also where incentives can come in – just as we have supported other industries, government can provide a spark for reducing carbon as well.

6. By Getting Started. There’s no time like NOW. What are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions, your building’s footprint, your community’s output, and your nation’s policies. Make yourself heard, join a group and add your voice, share what you know, or ask great questions. Be a part of telling future generations that you played a part in enduring a healthy future for all.


This is not likely a traditional contest entry, but there are my sincere opinions. Follow the rules a bit more closely, and you might win a trip! Even better, you might make a difference to someone who reads what you wrote. You will never know unless you try.