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Aerial view of small neighborhood garden plots.

Aerial view of small neighborhood garden plots.

Table of Solutions

Here, we present the individual solutions reviewed and assessed by Project Drawdown, including their relevant sector(s) and their impact on reducing heat-trapping gases. This list is extensive but not exhaustive, and we continue to add to it as a living project.

Project Drawdown uses different scenarios to assess what determined, global efforts to address climate change might look like. Both scenarios shown here are plausible and economically realistic. Drawdown Scenario 1 is roughly in line with 2˚C temperature rise by 2100, while Drawdown Scenario 2 is roughly in-line with 1.5˚C temperature rise at century’s end.

The results shown here are based on projected emissions impact globally. The relative importance of a given solution can differ significantly depending on context and particular ecological, economic, political, or social conditions. We invite a deeper dive into the many particularities and nuances of all of these solutions.

 

To sort solutions alphabetically, click on solution. To rank by emissions impact, click on Scenario 1 or Scenario 2.

* Gigatons CO2 Equivalent Reduced / Sequestered (2020–2050)

Solution Sector(s) Scenario 1 * Scenario 2 *
Smart Thermostats Electricity / Buildings 6.91 7.25
Building Automation Systems Electricity / Buildings 9.55 14.01
LED Lighting Electricity 14.45 15.69
Insulation Electricity / Buildings 15.38 18.54
Dynamic Glass Electricity / Buildings 0.34 0.54
High-Performance Glass Electricity / Buildings 8.82 11.34
Green and Cool Roofs Electricity / Buildings 0.53 0.99
District Heating Electricity / Buildings 6.18 9.68
High-Efficiency Heat Pumps Electricity / Buildings 4.04 9.05
Solar Hot Water Electricity / Buildings 3.41 13.73
Low-Flow Fixtures Electricity / Buildings 0.93 1.52
Water Distribution Efficiency Electricity 0.61 0.86
Building Retrofitting Electricity / Buildings
Net-Zero Buildings Electricity / Buildings
Concentrated Solar Power Electricity 18.00 21.51
Distributed Solar Photovoltaics Electricity 26.65 64.86
Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics Electricity 40.83 111.59
Micro Wind Turbines Electricity 0.09 0.11
Onshore Wind Turbines Electricity 46.95 143.56
Offshore Wind Turbines Electricity 10.22 9.89
Geothermal Power Electricity 6.15 9.17
Small Hydropower Electricity 1.65 3.21
Ocean Power Electricity 1.27 0.80
Biomass Power Electricity 2.62 3.59
Nuclear Power Electricity 3.17 3.64
Waste to Energy Electricity / Industry 6.27 5.24
Landfill Methane Capture Electricity / Industry 3.89 -1.48
Methane Digesters Electricity / Industry 6.02 7.05
Grid Flexibility Electricity
Microgrids Electricity
Distributed Energy Storage Electricity
Utility-Scale Energy Storage Electricity
Plant-Rich Diets Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 78.33 103.11
Reduced Food Waste Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 88.50 102.20
Forest Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 5.55 8.83
Indigenous Peoples’ Forest Tenure Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 8.69 12.51
Grassland Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 3.35 4.25
Peatland Protection and Rewetting Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 25.40 40.27
Coastal Wetland Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Coastal and Ocean Sinks 1.20 1.62
Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 1.36 0.68
Conservation Agriculture Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 12.81 8.08
Regenerative Annual Cropping Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 15.12 23.21
Nutrient Management Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 2.77 11.48
Farm Irrigation Efficiency Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 1.13 2.07
Improved Rice Production Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 9.85 14.43
System of Rice Intensification Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Land Sinks 2.90 4.44
Alternative Cement Industry 7.70 15.56
Bioplastics Industry 1.33 2.48
Composting Industry 1.13 1.40
Recycling Industry 10.36 11.29
Recycled Paper Industry 2.28 2.90
Refrigerant Management Industry / Buildings 57.15 57.15
Alternative Refrigerants Industry / Buildings 42.73 48.75
Walkable Cities Transportation 2.83 3.51
Bicycle Infrastructure Transportation 2.73 4.63
Electric Bicycles Transportation 1.39 1.55
Carpooling Transportation 9.06 11.07
Public Transit Transportation 9.42 15.42
High-Speed Rail Transportation 1.26 3.62
Telepresence Transportation 2.64 4.43
Hybrid Cars Transportation 1.61 4.71
Efficient Trucks Transportation 9.15 10.77
Electric Trains Transportation 1.91 3.25
Electric Cars Transportation 7.66 9.76
Efficient Ocean Shipping Transportation 6.72 9.83
Efficient Aviation Transportation 5.29 5.82
Biogas for Cooking Buildings 4.65 9.70
Clean Cooking Buildings 31.38 76.34
Temperate Forest Restoration Land Sinks 19.42 27.85
Tropical Forest Restoration Land Sinks 54.45 85.14
Managed Grazing Land Sinks 13.72 20.92
Silvopasture Land Sinks 26.58 42.31
Multistrata Agroforestry Land Sinks 13.26 23.94
Tree Intercropping Land Sinks 15.03 24.40
Perennial Staple Crops Land Sinks 16.34 32.87
Perennial Biomass Production Land Sinks 4.00 7.04
Abandoned Farmland Restoration Land Sinks 12.48 20.32
Tree Plantations (on Degraded Land) Land Sinks 22.04 35.09
Bamboo Production Land Sinks 7.70 19.60
Coastal Wetland Restoration Coastal and Ocean Sinks 0.76 1.00
Biochar Production Engineered Sinks 1.36 3.00
Family Planning and Education Health and Education 68.90 68.90
Improved Aquaculture Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 0.50 0.78
Improved Cattle Feed Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 4.42 15.05
Recycled Metals Industry 4.31 12.34
Improved Manure Management Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 3.34 6.09
Reduced Plastics Industry 3.76 5.40
Recycled Plastics Industry 0.52 1.69
Seafloor Protection Food, Agriculture, and Land Use 3.80 5.14
Methane Leak Management Other Energy 19.81 4.50
Seaweed Farming Coastal and Ocean Sinks / Coastal and Ocean Sinks 2.50 4.72
Improved Fisheries Food, Agriculture, and Land Use / Coastal and Ocean Sinks 1.01 1.54
Macroalgae Protection and Restoration Coastal and Ocean Sinks 2.61 3.78
1044.89
1610.47