Accelerating net zero: why climate innovation needs emergency mode
The pursuit of net zero emissions—where the greenhouse gases we emit are balanced by those we remove—has become a global imperative. As climate impacts intensify, from heatwaves and floods to disrupted ecosystems, it’s clear we can no longer rely on incremental progress. What’s needed now is urgency—a shift from business-as-usual to emergency mode.
To meet climate targets, we must scale solar and wind power dramatically, rapidly phase out coal, halt deforestation, and increase global climate finance by nearly US$500 billion annually through 2030 (Boehm, 2023). This acceleration isn’t just about survival—it’s also about creating sustainable development opportunities: cleaner air, energy access, food security, and resilient livelihoods (IPCC, 2022).
The industrial sector, responsible for a large share of emissions, poses a major challenge—but also a major opportunity. Achieving net zero here means transforming entire value chains: from demand management and circular materials to low-carbon fuels, hydrogen, and carbon capture. Innovation and collaboration across industries will be key (IPCC, 2022).
Fortunately, the rise of digital technologies in recent years has opened up solutions that were unthinkable just a few years ago (Bongomin, 2020; Marino, 2021). Entrepreneurs are seeing climate change not just as a crisis, but as a business opportunity—developing new, financially viable models that deliver real impact (Gregori & Holzmann, 2020).
In the UK alone, there are over 5,000 climate tech startups and scale-ups—second only to the US. These ventures are tackling emissions at the source, enabling carbon sequestration, or helping communities adapt to climate change. Innovations include:
- Bio-based construction materials
- Algae-derived dyes for textiles, food, and cosmetics
- Biodegradable packaging
- CO₂ capture via enhanced rock weathering
- Early wildfire detection technologies
- Hydrogen production and liquid air energy storage, among many others
However, while support for early-stage ideas is strong, many ventures stall in the ‘missing middle’—the critical, capital-intensive phase between prototype and market readiness. This is often dubbed the “valley of death,” where promising innovations face funding shortfalls and scalability challenges.
That’s where EarthScale comes in.
EarthScale is a new, UK-wide 12-month programme designed to help IP-rich climate tech startups and spinouts scale to commercialisation. It connects regional hubs into a powerful, collaborative ecosystem—supporting high-potential ventures through this crucial growth phase.
Curious about EarthScale or how to apply?
Join one of our informal Q&A webinars to meet the team and learn more:
Tuesday 29 July 2025 | 12:00–13:00 | Register here
Thursday 7 August 2025 | 14:00–15:00 | Register here
This blog was written by Juan Ramón Candia (JR). JR is Climate Innovation Hub Manager at the Priestley Centre. He drives the scale-up of groundbreaking climate innovations, ensuring they transition from concept to commercial deployment. His work is centred on two high-impact initiatives: EarthScale, a consortium led by Imperial College London that brings together leading UK universities to accelerate innovation at scaling stages, and the Cluster Action Framework in Climate Tech, a regional network propelling Climate Tech advancement.