The recent climate summit in Belém, Brazil, showcased groundbreaking advancements in climate technology, despite inclement weather. Engineers and researchers revealed innovative solutions aimed at tackling some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The following highlights represent some of the most significant developments in climate tech in 2025.
Ammonia Production Revolutionized by Wind Technology
A team led by researchers Richard Zare and Xiaowei Song has made strides in ammonia production, a key component for agriculture and energy. In a real-world demonstration reported by freelance contributor Alfred Poor in January, a new device captures ammonia from the wind without the need for batteries. This passive technology represents a significant leap towards sustainable ammonia production, which could have wide-ranging implications for various industries.
Piezoelectric Catalysts Tackle Water Contamination
Addressing the issue of persistent pollutants, a startup has developed a piezoelectric catalyst aimed at dismantling so-called “forever chemicals” that contaminate waterways. As highlighted by freelance contributor Rachel Berkowitz, traditional systems often rely on high energy consumption to filter these harmful substances. The new method instead harnesses the kinetic energy from natural water flow, showcasing a more efficient approach to environmental remediation.
Supercritical CO2 Circuit Breakers Enter the Market
The introduction of the first supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) circuit breaker marks a notable innovation in electrical engineering. Reported by energy editor Emily Waltz, this technology replaces the potent greenhouse gas SF6, which has a global warming potential thousands of times greater than CO2. By using supercritical CO2 as an insulator, this advancement could significantly reduce the environmental impact of electrical grids, addressing approximately 1 percent of global warming attributed to SF6 emissions in 2018.
Assessing Carbon Capture Potential
Understanding the scale of carbon capture is essential for combating climate change. Contributing editor W. Wayt Gibbs explored how much carbon society can realistically remove from the atmosphere. His analysis, featured in The Scale Issue, includes an infographic detailing potential underground injection sites for CO2, progress made so far, and the vast challenges that lie ahead in achieving meaningful carbon capture targets.
Geopolitical Challenges in Mining Greenland’s Resources
The extraction of rare earth elements in Greenland, crucial for various climate technologies, faces significant political hurdles. Former deputy director of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Flemming Getreuer Christiansen emphasized in a guest article that engineering solutions alone are insufficient. The interplay of geopolitics and resource management will be critical in unlocking Greenland’s potential as a source of these valuable materials.
As the conference concluded, the emphasis on balancing technical innovation with artistic expression was also highlighted. Nicole Millman shared a reflective poem titled “A Sunday in August,” showcasing the importance of creativity and nature in the discourse surrounding climate technology.
These stories underscore a year of remarkable progress in climate tech, reinforcing the importance of innovation and collaboration in addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change.
